X FACTOR: Final 24 turn into 25 after Rough Copy are replaced by two bands
Tuesday 25 September 2012
Rough Copy were seen winning a place at the judges' houses on Sunday's X Factor - but the trio have now been replaced on the show by two of their boyband rivals.
The band - who wowed the judges during their audition with a version of Kings Of Leon's Use Somebody - initially made it through from boot camp, in scenes which were shown over the weekend as the 24 acts who will proceed to the judges' houses were revealed, but were dropped from the competition after issues with visas.
Nigerian-born Kazeem Ajobe had a problem with his visa application which would have led to complications on his return if he had left the country to travel to judges' houses.
Kazeem has since admitted that he and bandmates Sterling Ramsay and Joseph Thomas were 'gutted' to be out of the show.
'We were having such a great time,' he told a newspaper.
'Hopefully, if everything is OK with my visa, we can apply again next year.'
It has since emerged that two bands from boot camp have been brought in to replace Rough Copy - increasing the number of acts at the judges' houses to 25 - Times Red and Triple J.
Times Red
Triple J originally missed out on a place at the judges houses after competing with fellow boy band GMD3 in a 'sing-off.'
The band have been put through but as a four-piece band now named Union J, after the judges added boot camp reject George Shelley to their line-up.
Union J
Next week's episode will see the start of the judges houses where Gary Barlow will be in charge of the over-28s and will mentor them in Northamptonshire, helped by former judge Cheryl Cole.
Tulisa Contostavlos gets the girls and will head to St Lucia, assisted by Tinie Tempah.
Nicole Scherzinger will train up the boys with rapper Ne-Yo in Dubai.
Louis Walsh will take the groups to Las Vegas – and is helped by another former judge, Sharon Osbourne.
Highlights among the contestants include Jahmene Douglas, the timid Asda worker from Swindon who has ‘never been in love’ and was one of the most popular X Factor contestants in history when his version of Etta James’ was screened in the launch edition.
Ella Henderson from Tetney is also a favourite to win, but almost missed her chance at X-Factor fame when her auditions clashed with her GCSE’s. Fortunately she managed to do both.
James Arthur from Middlesborough is Nicole’s favourite and she claims he’s one to watch. He had a traumatic childhood, spending time in care and homeless after his parents split up. He wowed the judges with Take That hit; A Million Love Songs.
In the over 28s, the stand-out act was chimney sweeper Kye Sones from London. He sang a mash-up of Swedish House mafia’s ‘Save the World’ and Rita Ora’s ‘RIP’.
The boys
Jahmene Douglas, 21
Nathan Fagan-Gayle, 25
Jake Quickenden, 23
Adam Burridge, 23
James Arthur, 24
Rylan Clark, 23
The girls
Jade Ellis, 25
Amy Mottram, 16
Lucy Spraggan, 20
Leanne Robinson, 22
Ella Henderson, 16
Jade Collins, 17
The over 28's
Brad Shackleton, 37
Melanie Masson, 44
Christopher Maloney, 34
Carolynne Poole, 32
Kye Sones, 30
Nicola-Marie Bloor, 35
The groups
Mitsotu (Holly Cooper 22, James Collins, 22, and Jimmy Essex, 22)
Duke (Marko Pandazis, 26, Edward Travers, 39, and Flynn Stronach, 31)
MK1 (Charlie, 19 – real name Lotte Rundle – and Simeon Dixon, 23)
Union J (JJ Hamblett, 23, George Shelley, 18, Josh Cuthbert, 19, and Jaymi Hensley, 22)
GMD3 (Greg West, 17, Dan Ferrari-Lane, 19, and Mickey Parsons 17)
Poisonous Twins (Stephanie McMichael, 23, and Sophie Houghton, 21)
Times Red (Staz Nair, 20, Scott Ritchie, 25, Luke White, 24)