The X Factor returned for its fourth week of live shows on Saturday, ahead of a shock quadruple elimination this weekend.
And it kicked off with a bang as head judge Simon Cowell bizarrely likened Sam Black’s opening performance to a prawn cocktail.
Sam took on Oops by Little Mix ft. Charlie Puth with a playful performance surrounded by dancers.
Oh dear: The X Factor kicked off with a bang as head judge Simon Cowell bizarrely likened Sam Black’s opening performance to a prawn cocktail
Wow: Sam took on Oops by Little Mix ft. Charlie Puth with a playful performance surrounded by dancers but it wasn’t to Simon’s liking
Simon opened with: ‘Thats what I call a prawn cocktail. That’s not the main course or dessert. It’s the little thing you have before the big thing.
‘The problem is that everything that happens around you has been done by other people. Horrible song choice. Why I’m frustrated is you should be doing something that is different, that doesn’t make you feel like a puppet.’
Nicole went one step further as she said: ‘The song fit your style. However it was off, the timing was off, you were pitchy. For me it was the worst performance you’ve ever done.’
Sharon said: ‘You are the happy little chappy. Every week you bob along. I’ve never seen just you. I don’t have a sense of who you are. You’re showing us a happy little chappy who should be doing a show in the summer time.’
Critique: Simon opened with: ‘Thats what I call a prawn cocktail. That’s not the main course or dessert. It’s the little thing you have before the big thing
Negative: Nicole went one step further as she said: ‘The song fit your style. However it was off, the timing was off, you were pitchy. For me it was the worst performance you’ve ever done.
Louis was quick to jump to his act’s defence saying: ‘How can you say that Simon he’s like a prawn cocktail. You’re still here. that was your best performance yet.’
Next up was the first Groups act with Sean and Conor Price taking on Issues by Julia Michaels.
Louis said: ‘I like everything about you guys, you’re real, you’re great role models. I want to see you here next week so bad.
Sharon said: ‘Excellent song choice, it is an amazing song. I think that this is where you shine. You’ve built up to this. You shine guys. Im really happy for you. It was beautifully done.’
Nicole said; ‘It is such a great song. You sounded amazing. I still think you guys are better than that and the talent you have, I think you could have come with a more original interpretation. They are slaying it tonight.
Praise: Next up was the first Groups act with Sean and Conor Price taking on Issues by Julia Michaels
Simon responded: ‘Somebodys a little grumpy tonight. (Taking a sip of her drink) Oh its grumpy juice’ to which Nicole bit back ‘It’s ginger and cayenne’
He continued: ‘I think tonight, this is the best one, it looked like you were having fun.’
Nicole Scherzinger dazzled in a red sequinned dress which clung to her enviable toned figure as he sat at the judging table.
Her raven locks were styled in a bouncy blow dry while she went for full-on bombshell with her make-up look.
Meanwhile Sharon Osbourne put on an incredibly busty display in a statement black gown with statement shoulder pads which flashed her ample cleavage.
Louis Walsh and his boys category will take on Simon Cowell’s Groups category in Saturday night’s show.
This week the 10 remaining acts will battle it out during a Crazy In Love themed weekend.
The winner of the prize fight competition will win a songwriting session with Ali Tamposi who wrote Camila Cabello’s number one single Havana.
Last week contestant Kevin Davy White won the viewer vote with a rendition of George Michael’s Fastlove, Pt 1 in a night that paid tribute to the late singer.
But it was Lloyd Macey who won Sunday night’s vote and ended up beating Kevin in the prize fight, winning a chance to support Little Mix in concert in Manchester
It was the end of the line for the final two wildcards last weekend with groups acts Jack and Joel and girl’s singer Alisah Bonaobra eliminated during George Michael week.
Although Jack and Joel’s performance of Wham’s The Edge of Heaven was labelled ‘Wham-mazing’ by Nicole Scherzinger, it wasn’t enough to save them in the public vote.
Meanwhile comeback queen Alisah was booted out of the competition after her cover of Praying For Time failed to impress the judging panel.
This week show favourite Grace Davies has confessed she struggled in rehearsals this week after she suffered from ‘crippling back pain’, which had left her struggling to walk on Friday morning.
The aspiring singer , 20, admitted to The Sun that she was ‘unable to get off the floor for 20 minutes’ due to the pain and had to result in crawling across her bedroom.