The X Factor 2015: Judges' Houses sees 4th Impact and Max Stone go through to live shows
TONIGHT'S The X Factor saw Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Simon Cowell whisk the hopefuls away to their lavish Judges' Houses, before each picking their final three acts to go through to the live shows.
4th Impact and Max Stone went through to live shows
Cheryl, who's mentoring The Groups, whittled her six acts down to just three after a holiday in Rome and the help of guest judge Jess Glynne.
The hitmaker first selected Filipino sibling group 4th Impact to sail through to the next stage of the competition, swiftly followed by Alien Uncovered and Ghanaian duo Reggie n Bollie.
She waved goodbye to unlucky hopefuls Melody Stone, BEKLN Mile and New Kings Order.
Music mogul Simon, who is heading up The Overs, enlisted the help of One Direction heartthrob Louis Tomlinson in the south of France before making his final decision.
Cheryl picked her final three acts
Simon picked Leeds-born singer Bupsi as the first of his soloists to progress from the Judges' Houses stage, before choosing back-up singer Anton Stephans.
He said he'd changed his mind at the last minute, but his third choice was Max Stone – who he previously said looked "half-dead".
4th Impact, who have been the bookies' frontrunners for weeks, sealed their place with a performance of Eminem's Love The Way You Lie featuring Rihanna.
They told co-hosts Olly Murs and Caroline Flack that they were "very grateful" and felt "welcomed" by the British public.
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Simon chose Bupsi, Anton Stephans and Max Stone
Alien Uncovered delivered a raunchy rendition of Usher's Bad Girl which went down well with rising pop star Jess, while Reggie n Bollie – formerly known as Menn On Point – put a twist on The Beatles classic Twist and Shout.
"We are going to entertain you every week," the twosome promised.
Explaining her choices, Cheryl said: "Obviously, we have two very different girl groups. I can only do so much with a choir. The people who just left the stage are as talented."
As for The Overs, Bupsi's performance of Ginuwine's Pony secured her place despite Louis thinking it was a bit "cabaret".
Nick Grimshaw will announce his picks tomorrow
The people who just left the stage are as talented
"I feel absolutely fantastic," she cried upon hearing the good news.
Anton was "over the moon" to have beaten off the competition with his warbling of Superstar by The Carpenters.
Finally, Max's rendition of Gangsta's Paradise secured him the third spot over Kerrie Anne Phillips, Jennifer Phillips and Ebru.
For the first time in The X Factor history, the acts judged to have performed best at Judges' Houses were announced live.
The X Factor returns to ITV1 tomorrow at 7.30pm.
Rita was barely in tonight's show