Prison warden and former cruise ship singer Sam Bailey is still expected to be the runaway winner and it would certainly be a well deserved victory. The 35-year-old showed off her impressive vocal range last Saturday on Beyonce’s If I Were a Boy before giving a Celine Dion-esque rendition of Elton’s Candle in the Wind.
Meanwhile, Nicholas McDonald is the only other contestant to have avoided ever being in the bottom two and was spared the danger zone again despite a problematic Saturday night.
The 17-year-old has enjoyed a charmed and consistent path throughout the competition but had a bit of a meltdown during a performance of Beyonce’s Halo.
Meanwhile, Nicholas McDonald is the only other contestant to have avoided ever being in the bottom two and was spared the danger zone again despite a problematic Saturday night.
The 17-year-old has enjoyed a charmed and consistent path throughout the competition but had a bit of a meltdown during a performance of Beyonce’s Halo.
After the Scot uncharacteristically struggled with the vocals, judge Gary Barlow described the performance as ‘really disappointing’. The Take That front man cited pitching problems and the fact that the song had been too big for Nicholas’s voice.
With the teenager in tears, things weren’t looking good. But a performance of Elton’s Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me turned things around and McDonald sailed safely through to the final.
Finding themselves in the bottom two this week were Devon’s Luke Friend and urban trio Rough Copy.
Following his triumph in last week’s sing-off against Tamera Foster, Luke had delighted the panel with his version of Beyonce’s Best Thing I Never Had.
However, is he as unique and original as the judges would like us to believe or is he simply giving most of his songs a Mumford & Sons style makeover?
Rough Copy had received mixed reviews on Saturday with Nicole Scherzinger feeling that they were essential for the show’s energy and excitement, adding she expected to see them in the final.
With the teenager in tears, things weren’t looking good. But a performance of Elton’s Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me turned things around and McDonald sailed safely through to the final.
Finding themselves in the bottom two this week were Devon’s Luke Friend and urban trio Rough Copy.
Following his triumph in last week’s sing-off against Tamera Foster, Luke had delighted the panel with his version of Beyonce’s Best Thing I Never Had.
However, is he as unique and original as the judges would like us to believe or is he simply giving most of his songs a Mumford & Sons style makeover?
Rough Copy had received mixed reviews on Saturday with Nicole Scherzinger feeling that they were essential for the show’s energy and excitement, adding she expected to see them in the final.
But Sharon Osbourne was distracted by their staging of Survivor by Destiny’s Child, describing the dancers behind them as ‘people humping the floor!’
In any case, Sunday night’s emotional sing-off saw Rough Copy’s performance of Boyz II Men’s End of the Road proving apt as the trio were booted off after Sharon took the vote to deadlock.
It is fair to say that this hasn’t been the strongest series of The X Factor with ratings down and changes to the format, including the now ditched flash vote, proving unpopular.
However, a Grand Final always proves excellent event TV and next week is unlikely to be an exception with Sam, Nicholas and Luke battling it out while a stack of star guests perform live.
Elton John, One Direction, The Killers, Katy Perry and Tom Odell will all take to the stage, ensuring that Wembley catches a potent case of The X Factor fever.
In any case, Sunday night’s emotional sing-off saw Rough Copy’s performance of Boyz II Men’s End of the Road proving apt as the trio were booted off after Sharon took the vote to deadlock.
It is fair to say that this hasn’t been the strongest series of The X Factor with ratings down and changes to the format, including the now ditched flash vote, proving unpopular.
However, a Grand Final always proves excellent event TV and next week is unlikely to be an exception with Sam, Nicholas and Luke battling it out while a stack of star guests perform live.
Elton John, One Direction, The Killers, Katy Perry and Tom Odell will all take to the stage, ensuring that Wembley catches a potent case of The X Factor fever.
