It’s show four of The X Factor audition tour where Simon, Sharon and Louis visit eight cities to try and find the best singing talent in the country. This week, they’re in Leeds, London and Manchester and see some of the best – and worst that the UK has to offer.

Tomorrow’s show (Saturday 9 September) features:

* A row amongst the judges.
* Last year’s Eskimo Blonde reunited – with tearful results.
* It’s grim up North – the worse audition day ever.
* Singing pensioners prove the oldies are goodies.
* And Robbie Williams wanabees.

A reunion between one of last year’s Judges Homes groups prompts a row this week between the Judges. Three piece Eskimo Blonde got to Simon’s final stages but failed to make the grade when Simon told them that their lead singer Hari, 20, from Manchester was let down by her two band mates Jemma, 19, and Gemma, 21. Since last year’s competition, Hari has left the band and she and the other girls haven’t spoken since. Until now. They bumped into each other at the Manchester auditions – Hari was auditioning as a soloist and the two girls singing as a threesome with a new member Danielle.

Hari is first up and sails through the audition with her rendition of Mariah Carey’s Sweetheart. Simon says ‘With the right attitude and with the right amount of self belief you could be very good. One of the most distinct voices we’ve ever had.’

But things don’t go so well for her former bandmates. They sing Viva Forever by The Spice Girls to a mixed reaction. Louis says ‘It was an OK audition but it was nothing special. There was no performance, it was like three girls singing along but there’s no lead singer.’ Simon is brutally honest. ‘You lost something that was very good about the group and that’s Hari. Without her you’re just want we see a thousand times. There’s no spark, most importantly there’s no individuality here.’ He says no but Louis decides to give them a chance leaving Sharon with the casting vote. Louis and Simon leave Sharon to face the girls alone and retire to their dressing room sniggering.

The girls plead with Sharon to put them though and start to cry, desperate to realise their dream. Sharon says ‘I just can’t do it. Don’t do this to me it’s not fair. The standard this year is so high you will be let down. My heart wants to say yes but as a business woman I have to say no.’ Tony escorts the girls out sobbing.

Sharon joins Simon and Louis and is absolutely furious. She shouts ‘Simon, it’s your responsibility. You had a relationship with those young girls, I don’t even know who they are. You are both taking the piss of me and it’s not fair Simon. I wouldn’t do that to you, I would support you. I would never do that to you Louis. You’re being really really condescending to me and it’s not fair. I thought we were a team.’ Simon apologies but Sharon says ‘No you’re not (sorry). You’re taking the mickey out of me.’ But the two boys laugh as Sharon storms out.

The Judges are in Leeds and it proves to be a grim day up North. Things aren’t going well and the talent is non existent. By the end of the first day the Judges haven’t put anyone through to the Bootcamp stage. For the first time in the history of the show they haven’t seen anyone with sufficient talent to get to the next stage. Simon says ‘In all the years I’ve been doing this I’ve never had a day when one single person . . .’ Louis adds ‘They’re all so unprofessional, amateurish, they’re just coming in wasting our time. And Sharon says ‘I think this is the first day ever we’ve never put anybody through. It’s really bad.’

First up are Ebony Pearls, mum Cheryl, 38, daughter Siobhan, 19, and aunt Debbie, 35, from Stoke On Trent. Debbie says how they love to sing and Siobhan boasts ‘I would be Alicia Keays, mum would be Aretha Franklin and Debbie would be Nina Simone.’ The singer Fever – badly. ‘What the hell was that? I mean that was absolutely diabolical. You are comfortably the worst group we’ve ever heard.’ exclaimed Simon. Sharon said that it sounded like little bees buzzing – but Louis adds ‘No cats, three cats. Late at night.’ It’s a bad start for the people of Leeds and unfortunately it doesn’t get any better.

Next in is Rockin’ Rick, a 48 year old Butlins dishwasher from Skegness. He explains ‘For 30 years I’ve been cooking chips, washing up and now it’s about time I broke into the music business. Every time I see people on the stage I think I wish I could be on the stage and not in the kitchen. I think the Judges should pick me because I’m the only Rockin’ Rick and I think I ought to be a superstar.’ Resplendent with a quiff and dressed in drainpipe jeans and crepe soled shoes he says his ambition is to ‘be number one in the charts and making it.’ He sings the Elvis classic Love Me Tender. The Judges aren’t impressed. Simon tells a crestfallen Rick ‘the reality unfortunately is that you’re never going to be number one in the charts. Not after performances like that. I don’t feel great about saying that but that’s the way it is. It’s going to be a no Richard.’

But things brighten up in London. Receptionist Linda , 38, from London brightens up the Judge’s day with her infectious laugh. She sings Falling by Alicia Keays and sails through the audition. Louis tells her ‘you’ve got a great personality, you’ve got a great voice I have to say yes’. Simon says ‘under normal circumstances a voice like that would make a good back up singer. However I like your personality so I’m going to say yes.’

Dionne, 26 from London nervously attends the audition with her family. She sings Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin and Sharon isn’t sure. ‘You’ve got a good strong voice but your vocal performance is not original. I’m on the fence with you Dionne.’ Paula and Louis say yes and Simon advises her. ‘If you had come in and done your version of say You’re Beautiful by James Blunt with that voice these two would be raving about you now because it would make you sound different. But I’m going to say yes – and Dionne is though to the Bootcamp stage.

And Ben, 26 from Kent also impresses the Judges. He says ‘singing is what I love most in the world.’ He sings Bring It On Home To Me by Sam Cook. Paula sums up the Judges’ opinion. ‘That was awesome, no need to be nervous at all.’ Simon agrees and says ‘I’ve got to tell you Ben, it has been a long long long time since I’ve heard a guy your age – particularly from this country – who can sing an R n B classic like that. It sounded like the real thing. That the best compliment I can give you. I mean I am a huge huge huge fan of this kind of music.’ Sharon adds ‘It’s very rare that you get a white man with as much soul as you to sing a song by a legend. And you carried it off.’ And Ben is through to Bootcamp.

This week’s show proves that the oldies are the goodies. Janet, 56 from Romford in Essex has overcome breaking her back to make it to the auditions. She explains ‘I fell over a large dog that was at the top of the stairs. I went straight from top to bottom, hit my head at the bottom, broke my spine and was covered in blood. At that stage I really thought my life was on a thread. I’m dedicated to singing completely. I want to be a professional and that’s what drives me forward.’ Janet sings a very sexy version of Kylie’s classic ‘I Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ in a very sexy manner. Sharon says ‘Janet who knew when you can in you look like a very classy woman, nobody would realise there’s a little tiger in you.’ Paula, Louis and Sharon put her through although Simon says ‘I absolutely adore you Janet but purely based on the singing I’m going to have to have to say no.’ But three out of four votes means that Janet is through to the next round. ‘She entertained us – she’ll entertain the nation’ explains Louis.

Kenneth, 78 from Norfolk also gets through. He sings Moonlight Becomes You by Bing Crosby, impresses the Judges and makes it through to Bootcamp. Simon asks another gentleman if he’s single because his Mother is; and another pensioner lifts her red polka dot dress up and flashes her tights!

There’s a Robbie Williams theme this week as a number of auditionees try to emulate their hero. 31 year old security guard Trevor sings Let Me Entertain You. The Judges aren’t impressed. ‘I’ve got to be honest with you Trevor. It’s possibly the most inappropriate song in the world for you to sing because it was completely and utterly useless, so it’s a song and entertainer’s got to sing – do you know what I mean?’

And Antony a 20 year old petrol attendant is determined to wow the Judges with his version of the classic Angels. He gees himself up in the toilet and tells himself in the mirror to ‘come one, come on you can do this. I know I’ve got The X Factor, I am a very good singer, I’ve got the looks, I’ve got the personality. I see myself abroad. They need someone like me in the music industry.’ The Judges aren’t impressed. Simon says ‘I think we’ve got the measure of you. You couldn’t win this competition if you were the only person in it in a million years. That’s how bad it was.’ He get a resounding no and isn’t happy. ‘It’s broken my heart – literally’ he complains. ‘I could have won it. I wanted to win it.’

David, 36 carries on the trend. He says ‘My dream is to perform in front of lots of people who can get passionate about what I’m singing about. I want to do something I’ve never done before and that’s give me the chance to sing to other people. Last year when I saw the Final and I obviously saw Shayne perform so well and I thought if he can do it why don’t I give it a go and see what happens.’ He sings Paul Young’s Wherever I Lay My Hat That’s My Home. Simon, laughing, says ‘that’s the worst we’ve had today.’ David explains that someone at work told him he had a good voice. Sharon replies ‘he’s winding you up.’ David say afterwards ‘I thought it was alright but obviously they know more that I do so what can I say?’

Boyband Avenue also try their luck. Member Jamie says ‘We just really want success. It needs something fresh out there at the moment.’ Max, XX tells the Judges ‘We just sing together and like doing it and try and enjoy it.’ They sing their version of Will Young’s Leave Right Now. Simon says no. ‘I just don’t get it. I’m going to say no’. Louis says ‘I think your personalities are better than your vocal talent’ but Sharon says ‘I think you would all scrub up well.’ With two votes from Sharon and Louis, the boys are through to Bootcamp.

And hospital worker Robert, 27 from London gets through to Bootcamp. He says ‘When I sing I feel free like a bird. I’ve been through a couple of things in the last couple of years. I lost my sister and I’ve just lost my Dad to cancer. But on the flip side of that my girlfriend is pregnant so there are pros and cons and all of those emotions are here today.’ He explains what doing well in the competition would mean to him. ‘At the end of the day my family would have no more stress because I’d be able to pay for stuff for my child. My unborn child would be happy and have the kind of life I never had. I can look after my family and have a happy life.’ He sings Strangest Feeling by Stevie Wonder and impresses all of the Judges. Paula tells him that ‘there’s an amazing rich tone to your voice. You’ve got a lot of possibilities.’