It was the final night of X Factor auditions on Sunday night, and the range of acts did not disappoint – two adorable pensioners named Just Us melted hearts, while the show closing with a bang with an incredible performance from 45-year-old diva Berget Lewis.
But the eagerly anticipated final audition round kicked off with a ‘cheesy’ wannabe boyband duo, aptly named BoyBanned.
Ben and Scott were inspired by the boybands of the nineties, and even clad themselves in white suits, but told the judges – with Alesha Dixon standing in for Nicole Scherzinger – that their third member, Jack, had dropped out that morning.
Shaky start: The eagerly anticipated final audition round of the X Factor kicked off with a ‘cheesy’ wannabe boyband duo, aptly named BoyBanned
‘So you think the industry needs another nineties boyband?’ asked Simon, keen to learn the inspiration behind the act.
However, they got off to a shaky start, with BoyBanned unable to find their timings for their carefully thought out dance routine.
Fumbling around on stage as they got to grips with their moves, BoyBanned warned the judges: ‘bear with’.
‘Bear with’: However, they got off to a shaky start, with BoyBanned unable to find their timings for their carefully thought out dance routine
Awkward: The duo performed their own rendition of Everybody by Backstreet Boys – but Sharon Osbourne struggled to contain her laughter
The duo performed their own rendition of Everybody by Backstreet Boys – but Sharon Osbourne struggled to contain her laughter.
‘Jack, wherever you are, you made the right decision’ quipped Simon.
‘I’ve seen a lot of cheesy acts in my life but this tops them’ laughed Louis.
Inspired: Ben and Scott were inspired by the boybands of the nineties, and even clad themselves in white suits, but told the judges their third member Jack had dropped out that morning
‘Jack, wherever you are, you made the right decision’: quipped Simon
Next up were friends Jonny and Jenny, who auditioned separately. Although the judges liked Jonny, Simon thought that he would be suited to musical theatre.
25-year-old Jenny Ball’s day job is to be a singer, but she wanted to show off her true personality: ‘I have to dress in heels and nice dresses, it’s nice to be myself.’
Singing a powerful rendition of Titanium, the judges were overwhelmed with her stunning performance.
Moral support: Next up were friends Jonny and Jenny, who auditioned separately. Although the judges liked Jonny, Simon thought that he would be suited to musical theatre
25-year-old Jenny Ball’s day job is to be a singer, but she wanted to show off her true personality: ‘I have to dress in heels and nice dresses, it’s nice to be myself’
‘You let it build gradually instead of letting it overtake you at the beginning,’ Sharon praised.
‘You got halfway through and hit this sweet spot,’ agreed Simon.
However, other acts didn’t run as smoothly. One hopeful, 52-year-old Susan Shepherd, arrived to the audition room dressed as Amy Winehouse, complete with a black wig styled into a towering beehive.
Stunning: Singing a powerful rendition of Titanium, the judges were overwhelmed with her stunning performance
Praise: ‘You let it build gradually instead of letting it overtake you at the beginning,’ Sharon praised
She told the judges she wanted to be as big as Amy Winehouse herself, but Simon asked her to sing a different song, and chose Joan Jett’s I Love Rock N Roll off her list of choices.
Susie, who mysteriously brought a bag with her to the audition, agreed – but only if she could change her costume.
The shocked judges waited for five minutes while Susie changed into her Joan Jett costume – but she sadly failed to impress the judges.
Hopeful: However, other acts didn’t run as smoothly. One hopeful, 52-year-old Susan Shepherd, arrived to the audition room dressed as Amy Winehouse, complete with a black wig styled into a towering beehive
Ambition: She told the judges she wanted to be as big as Amy Winehouse herself, but Simon asked her to sing a different song, and chose Joan Jett’s I Love Rock N Roll off her list of choices
Costume change: Susie, who mysteriously brought a bag with her to the audition, agreed – but only if she could change her costume. The shocked judges waited for five minutes while Susie changed into her Joan Jett costume – but she sadly failed to impress the judges
‘I really missed my buzzer!’ joked Alesha, referring to her judging duties on Britain’s Got Talent, where she is allowed to buzz off disappointing acts.
Reuel Elijah, who is a part time dance teacher from Cardiff, cited his inspirations as the Nineties and early Noughties, and sang a stunning version of Motel Jordan’s This Is How We Do It.
An impressed Alesha gave an impromptu performance with Reuel, joining in with him to rap along with the song.
Smooth operator: Reuel Elijah, who is a part time dance teacher from Cardiff, cited his inspirations as the Nineties and early Noughties, and sang a stunning version of Motel Jordan’s This Is How We Do It
Impressed: An impressed Alesha gave an impromptu performance with Reuel, joining in with him to rap along with the song
‘I liked your laid back style, but I don’t know how strong your voice is,’ commented Sharon.
‘It was understated, but soulful. I liked the way you moved,’ said Louis.
Simon gave his feedback: ‘I liked it when you were rapping at the end – I think that’s what you should be doing.’
‘It was understated, but soulful. I liked the way you moved’: Louis was impressed with Reuel’s performance
The acts that followed up perplexed the judges. 39-year-old Danny Lambo sang a little-known track named Playboys, but the song appeared to lack any meaning, causing Louis to quip: ‘The song was about cars!’
Simon Gross was also a memorable act. He donned a glittering gold suit to belt out Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You.
Next up were best friends Carol, 70, and Anna Marie, 67, who named their duo Just Us, who have been friends for thirty years.
Playboy: The acts that followed up perplexed the judges. 39-year-old Danny Lambo sang a little-known track named Playboys, but the song appeared to lack any meaning, causing Louis to quip: ‘The song was about cars!’
Glittering: Simon Gross was also a memorable act. He donned a glittering gold suit to belt out Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You
Even Simon had his heart melted by the ladies, and joked: ‘I think that if Louis and I were girls we’d be you two!’
When asked if they were married, Carol said that her husband had passed away. Sharon said that she was sorry, and the sassy 70-year-old replied: ‘That’s ok, he was a womaniser anyway!’
They sang an adorable version of Abba’s Hasta Mañana.
Simon, who felt like the duo were missing members, encouraged Nicole and Louis to join them.
‘This is how One Direction were formed,’ Simon quipped.
After the newly formed quartet finished their performance, Simon joked that he had seen a vision of the future.
‘That was us winning Eurovision next year. Sometimes you’ve got to try new things – this is one of those times – it’s a yes.’
When the ladies asked Sharon how her husband Ozzy Osbourne was doing, Sharon joked: ‘My husband is good – he’s a bit like your old one but he’s good.’
Berget Lewis, 45, from Amsterdam gave an incredible performance of Prince’s Purple Rain.
She travelled to the UK because of her love of soul music, and feels that the UK is a gateway to the whole world and more people will appreciate soul music over here than in the smaller Netherlands.
Having sung in her twenties as a backing vocalists for the artists in the Netherlands, she wants to be as big as Chaka Khan.
She wowed the judges with her sensational vocals, causing them all to declare that they ‘loved’ her.
Simon expressed concern about Berget’s age, but these worries were shut down by the other judges.
‘I don’t care about your age, I care about your voice,’ said Louis. ‘You’re incredible, and I love my divas!’
‘I love the way you led us through the song without showing your full vocal power. It was a very tasteful performance,’ agreed Sharon.
‘You’re a soul sister, music loves you!’ Nicole said, clapping her hands together gleefully.
‘My one piece of advice to you would be to not do what everyone would expect you to do,’ said Simon. ‘But I think you’re incredible and I want to take a chance on you, so it’s four yeses.’