OK, we’re moving into the part of X Factor that I love – the run-up to the live shows – but before that, 24 contestants are set to become the final 12.

If the figures are to be believed, roughly 182,000 applied. I don’t know about you, but when I hear those figures, I often wonder about how many candidates are potential basket cases. Anyway…this week’s episode sees our shortlisted singers visit the Judges houses. Well, probably not their real houses. Let’s face it, would you let an X Factor applicant into your house?

Tonight, each category – Girls, Boys, Groups, Old People – will be represented. At this stage, there are six acts in each group. The delightful Cheryl Cole is mentoring the girls, Simon Cowell has got the boys groups, Dannii Minogue is mentoring the “it’s my last shot at fame” group (AKA the Over 25s). The ‘fabulous’ Louis Walsh is mentoring the groups, which is ironic since he’s been auditioning for his own girl group separately. Well, I suppose he’s got the qualifications for it if anyone has.

And there’s a treat tonight for male viewers. Not only will we have the delicious Holly “far better looking than Tess Daly” Willoughby, but Cheryl Cole will be joined tonight by fellow Girl Aloud, the scorching hot Kimberley Walsh.

Dannii Minogue will be ably assisted by Emma Bunton in St Tropez, and Simon will be dragging along the flamboyantly hatted Sinitta to his boot camp. Never one to miss an opportunity to promote his beloved Westlife, Louis Walsh will be bringing along Shane Filan.

It looks like there are going to be some interesting moments on tonight’s show. Not all of them necessarily about singing though – Simon apparently decides to address the media speculation surrounding Alan Turner, which is an interesting state of play with The X Factor responding to allegations in the press via the show. But I’ll talk about that in another post.