Last year we did a chart after each episode of X Factor with our take on the performers and what we thought. So, welcome to the very first X Factor chart for 2006!

Now, bear in mind I don’t have Tabby here tonight to talk me down, so I may be wrong. I’ve you’ve got better suggestions for the chart, leave them in the comments or jump to the forum for X-tra chat!

1. Ben Mills – As I said, Ben is possibly the most developed artist in the competition. He’s got the look and definitely the voice. Tonight he played a blinder, despite the material being miles away from his comfort zone. I’m backing Ben!
2. Nikitta Angus – Nikitta looked like she was enjoying herself, sang well and looked cute. I thought she was a great entertainer and the best of the females tonight.
3. Dionne Mitchell – Dionne put in a wonderful performance tonight and showed her potential for later stages of X Factor. For such a nervous person, you couldn’t tell it when she got up on stage!
4. Leona Lewis – Another strong singer. I don’t think she was a Mariah mimic as some said – her performance was closer to the original that Carey’s terrible warbling. Liked her.
5. Kerry McGregor – Again, I disagree with the judges here. Kerry put in a great performance and looked stunning this evening. I had my doubts about her ability to perform, but she had no problems at all. Maybe the song was a bit safe, but that’s not going to stop her.
6. Ashley McKenzie – I was slightly disappointed by Ashley’s performance tonight. Although he had confidence and good stage presence, his singing wasn’t up to scratch.
7. The McDonald Brothers – Despite a good performance, the McDonald Brothers were less than impressive. They could get better though – Louis thinks they’re this year’s Journey South.
8. The Unconventionals – Unconvincing. Another group with great potential forced into mediocrity by Master Walsh. As Simon Cowell commented, it was a mess – everybody singing at once. These guys are capable of so much more!
9. 4Sure – I’ve no doubt they’re a great bunch of lads, but they did nothing exciting tonight. Another blogger likened them to Boyz II Men, but the gist is they’re in danger of becoming forgettable unless they do something to distinguish themselves soon!
10. Robert Allen – While I thought Robert performed well, I noticed in the playback that I couldn’t actually make out what he was singing. His diction is quite bad.
11. Eton Road – The camp one looks like an extra from The Munsters, and the band is as bland as…well, anything else Louis Walsh has a hand in. He’s taken a fairly unique group and turned them into production-line pop. Rubbish.
12. Ray Quinn – What can I say? It’s the X Factor, not the pretty-boy factor. Ray can only grin his way through so many mediocre performances.

So, that’s my opinion. I’m staring at the wrong end of a bottle of red wine, so forgive any inconsistencies in my post!

The first night festivities are going well so far, aren’t they? If you’re not aware, I’m live blogging tonight’s X Factor, watching the show from over the top of my monitor the whole time!

So far, the judges have been extremely pleasant to the contestants. Will that change? Let’s watch and see!

The McDonald Brothers – Three Times A Lady

Brian and Craig dedicated their song tonight to their mother. First impression of the two is that they’re a good looking pair – young and highly marketable! The singing was fantastic and their harmonies were faultless, and they showed good confidence and command of the stage

Louis gave them a glowing report. Sharon commented that they’d need more than their talent to survive – they’d need personality and stage presence. Simon went a step further “boring, dull and predictable…the sort of thing you’d see at some ghastly kid’s party”. Looks like I was wrong about the judges holding back!

My verdict: They’ve got potential. I think they handled the stage well and sang strongly. Don’t know what Sharon was talking about.

Ray Quinn – Ben

First off, Ben is the typical song for the young guy in the group. Poor bloody song choice from the get go!

Ben took the stage looking typically ‘cheeky chappie’, he’s sure to get the teen vote. However, Ben is such an easy song to sing, he didn’t have to put in much effort – and he didn’t! He’s simply not a good singer in my opinion.

Keeping with his tradition of likening all the acts to performers from 100 years ago, Louis said Ray was “a young Donny Osmond”. Sharon gushed similarly. Simon said that the great thing about Ray’s act was that it was believable. In fairness, he was honest saying that Ray needed to put in more work, but for a first performance it was good enough.

My verdict: The guy leaves me cold. He’s likely coast along on the basis of his looks and tweenie appeal, but he isn’t a good singer and he wasn’t a convincing performer. Tonight at least.

We are almost there! The live shows kick off next week and tonight our 12 X Factor finalists were revealed!

They are as follows:

SIMON’S SINGERS: 16-24

Nikitta Angus
AGE 17: Fulfilled mum’s dying wish to go on show. Simon said: “Your voice is fantastic… your mum would be proud.�

Leona Lewis
AGE 21: Wrote first song at 12 and debut album is out already. Went to prestigious Brit drama school, now works as receptionist.

Raymond Quinn
AGE 18: Awardwinning ex-Brookside actor, broke down as Simon rejected him, then tracked him down and asked him to return and take a place in his final 8 acts.

Ashley McKenzie
AGE 16:student and ex-male model. He told Simon: “Singing is my life… without it, it’s a dead end.�

SHARON’S SINGERS: 25+

Kerry McGregor
AGE 31: Mother to 16 month old Joshua, Kerry broke her back falling from a tree in her teens – singing career is her lifelong ambition.

Dionne Mitchell
AGE 26: Dionne, a Londoner, wowed judges with a soulful take on Aretha Franklin’s You Make Me Feel (Like A Natural Woman).

Ben Mills
AGE 26: Long-haired rocker Ben has a huge ambition to make it as a singer. He currently runs a business renting out marquees.

Robert Allen
AGE 27: Robert is a hospital worker whose pregnant girlfriend is due to give birth in December.

LOUIS’S GROUPS

The Unconventionals: Three boys, three girls… longtime pals Drew, Andrew, Tom, Nicola, Lucy and Liz. Can they score a Hear’Saystyle victory? The group thought they had sang themselves out of a place in the final as Drew forgot his lyrics in their final audition, but Louis loved them anyway.

Eton Road: This quartet are James, Anthony, David and Daniel – pals with an unusual style.

McDonald Brothers: These Glaswegian brothers are Brian and Craig MacDonald. Handsome boys, I’d love to meet their dad!

4Sure: Four boys… Donovan, Andrew, Chris and Jermaine.