The X Factor aired its third round of auditions, with the bulk of the show coming from Dublin, but it was a student from Wales who was so good that judge Nicole Scherzinger was “scared” of her
As usual, The X Factor saved its biggest, most emotional audition for the last in Saturday’s show – and that was 19-year-old student Kayleigh Marie Morgan, from Clydach in Wales.
“I started gigging in the valleys when I was 15 but I’ve had confidence issues,” Kayleigh told the judges.
But she held it together to sing With You from the film Ghost.
“That song gets me every time,” said Simon Cowell.
“I’m scared of you,” added Nicole Scherzinger, “but in the best way. You are the most graceful singer. You blew me away.”
“You are in control of the whole song,” Louis Walsh told Kayleigh. “I think we’ve found somebody special.”
Simon was left thinking there is nothing special about Ottavio Columbro and Bradley Hunt, giving them a firm “no”, but they still made it through to the next round.
The friends from Southampton auditioned separately because they had fallen out over a row about undercooked chicken (yes, seriously).
The judges, especially Louis, encouraged them to hug it out and audition together and, after hesitating for a micro second, they did.
They sang the Pussycat Dolls’ hit Buttons to the delight of Nicole, but not Simon.
“This is one of Louis’ weird fantasies,” Simon said. “I like you two but you weren’t great individually and I actually think you’re worse together.”
“I think people are going to like you,” Louis insisted and, with a “yes” vote from him, Nicole and Sharon Osbourne, they were through.
Also winning the judges’ approval was returning X Factor contestant Janet Grogan, 28, from Dublin, who sang Zayn Malik’s Pillowtalk.
Janet made it to Simon’s Six Chair Challenge in 2014 but he eventually swapped her for another singer.
“I was always praying you would come back into the audition room,” Simon told Janet. “At least I can admit to my mistakes. You’re more confident now and your voice is stunning.”
Barman Niall Sexton, 22, from Londonderry, also earned high praise from Simon after he sang Gravity by Sara Bareilles.
“I think you have a beautiful voice with real class,” Simon told Niall.
“With a little help you could do great things,” added Sharon.
Great enough to win?
The X Factor auditions continue on ITV, Sunday, September 4, 8.00pm.
