Welcome to the sixth live X Factor show, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight’s musical theme, if you can call it that, is Best Of British. Which leaves things fairly flexible, doesn’t it?

Simon made a comment about the show generating controversy over Laura getting booted last week. They’re going all-out to remind people (that means you, phone voters) that this is a singing competition. I wouldn’t be surprised if they turn on Rachel this week to emphasise that point.

Daniel Evans

Just before Daniel hits the stage we see him taking a dander around his hometown. Big things are promised, but sagelike Brian Friedman warns that it could be a disaster. The song? Tom Jones’ It’s Not Unusual.

The cabaret act is in full swing, so is the limited vocal range Louis chided him about last week, but all in all it’s a fun performance.

Louis: What are the public thinking? Everything was good, but you were bad. Cheryl: You seemed a little distracted at times, but I enjoyed your performance. Simon: I don’t think it matter what we say anymore. For what it’s worth, the performance was a bit ‘drunk Dad at a wedding’ though. Dannii: Yes Daniel, you did it! You’re showing that you’re versatile.

Alexandra Burke

Alex looks stoked in her VT before she sings, she’s talking about loving last week’s performance and how down to earth she seems. Yvie and Cheryl are talking about how they’re stripping back her song this week.

The song is You Are So Beautiful, and as promised, it’s purely a vocal performance, just Alexandra and her mic. Simon looks very red-faced and slightly agog. Very good song.

Louis: You’re getting better week by week. I want the public to know that you’re so happy, so professional. You’re a rare, raw talent. Dannii: I loved that you sang a male vocal song and got to put your own stamp on it. Simon: You were singing that to me, weren’t you? This is what I wanted to see you do. Cheryl: You’re going to have a huge career out of this, that was amazing.

JLS

Smoother vocals week on week from JLS, and we get a Beatles medley this time round. Boy band. Boy band. Boy band. I don’t get that JLS get to wear t-shorts with their name on – is that fair to the other contestants?

Nauseated by the sight of Louis mouthing the words to I Wanna Hold Your Hand – but which member of JLS was he mouthing it to? The one from Fun Song Factory is pretty good though, is he the strongest vocalist they have? Great performance though, I loved the ending.

Dannii: You guys always put on a lovely performance. Is this music you really listen to? Cheryl: It’s so hard to do a medley, but you did what Take That did and made it really cool. Simon: You’ve proved that you’re brilliant entertainers, but this has Louis Walsh stamped all over it. It’s not the kind of record you should be making. Louis: You sing you dance you entertain and you have fun.

Valid points from Dannii and Simon – JLS aren’t the right act to be covering The Beatles.

Rachel Hylton

How humiliating – they’re making out that Rachel went crawling back to Dannii. How awful. Laughed when they showed her two kids – one went “My mum is brilliant” and the other one just sneezed. This is going to be make or break for Rachel, but it’s also a song we know she did well in auditions.

She’s doing Amy Winehouse’s You Know I’m No Good. She’s terrifying Cowell with an over the table performance to him. This is a far better class of performance from Rachel, and a fantastic ending. Effortless for once.

Louis: It was a lot better than last week. I know you’re having a hard time, but you are a talented lady. Cheryl: This is what I was waiting for Rachel! If you were going to do an album, it would be that style of music, and I would buy it. Simon: Welcome back to the X Factor! Dannii: You put your stamp all over that song, it’s great to see you up there enjoying it.

Eoghan Quigg

Tonight, Eoghan will be singing One More Try by George Michael. There’s a massive campaign in support of Eoghan over here in Northern Ireland, and he’s overwhelmed at the posters everywhere. They really are, folks, the whole province is behind this guy.

Maybe it’s a sudden burst of feeling for our fellow countryman, but Eoghan’s voice is exceptional tonight. Isn’t it? Clear as a bell, great diction and a fair bit of power when it’s required too.

Louis: It was a big task to give you that song, but you absolutely pulled it off. You’re going to be in the final of this show. Dannii: You’re putting in some very consistent performances each week. Cheryl: I always question if it’s the cute factor, but I’m starting to see a little bit of star quality creeping into your performances. Simon: Once again, you’ve just delivered a great performance, and as Cheryl said, these are big vocals.

Diana Vickers

We get a little more reassurance that Diana would have put her voice in danger if she’d sung last week. Also, she’s having a crisis of confidence having missed a week. She’s coming out fighting…

She’s singing Yellow by Coldplay. On a big square podium thingy. Diana’s looking foxy tonight, and she’s in fine voice. We’re having mixed reactions in our house – how’s it sound to you lot? Coming off stage, she looks devastated.

Louis: You’re back with a bang. I’m glad you’re back in the competition, you have to be in the final. Dannii: It’s unfair what people have said about you in the press. I didn’t love that song for you, but well done. Simon: I really missed you last week, because I think you’re the most relevant person in the competition, but I think you’re still not better yet. Cheryl: I think you did a fantastic job – your confidence is shattered to pieces and I hope the public remember what you’ve done so far.

People – keep Diana in the competition. Vote for Diana!

Ruth Lorenzo

Dannii bills Ruth as a rock chick in her introduction, but has given her Angels by Robbie Williams. Huh? But we’re reassured that Ruth can pull this off. Battle lines have been drawn, and Ruth’s fighting her corner tonight…

Another mixed reaction in our house – I’m not loving it, Lisa thinks its alright. Prepare for comments about the production – Simon’s giving Brian Friedman the evil eye!

Louis: After that performance, I’m delighted that I saved you last week. You deserve to be on that stage. Cheryl: You totally deserve to be in this competition and you proved that yet again tonight. Simon: It’s certainly the most insane interpretations of that song I’ve ever seen. Once again, it was a great performance. Dannii: I just want everyone at home to know – it’s the last performance of the night.

Well, show’s over folks – who was your favourite? Who are you voting for, and crucially – who do you want to leave tonight?

Personally, not my favourite week. I was cold on a number of my favourite acts – I wanted to see Alex do something uptempo, Diana was off-form, Ruth needs to work on her diction, because all the words of the songs run into each other.

Strongest acts: Eoghan Quigg was on-form tonight, and Rachel Hylton made a good comeback. JLS are good, but crucified on song choice – I HATE The Beatles SO MUCH.