Bah humbug: X Factor judge Cheryl Cole accessorised with red but left her smile at home
With her eye-catching, bright red earrings and equally boldly-coloured boots, one might assume Cheryl Cole is starting to feel the buzz of Christmas.
She even finished off her smart yet casual look of jeans, T-shirt and tuxedo jacket with a flash of bright red nail polish.
But the 27-year-old had clearly left her festive cheer at home as she arrived at Fountain Studios for tonight's X Factor.
Getting out of her car, the presenter and singer glowered at the waiting photographers before heading in to get started on tonight's episode of the ITV show.
Perhaps Cole is concerned about her contestants - and in particular, her apparent protege Cher Lloyd.
It emerged today the 17-year-old exploded at a member of the show's production staff and One Direction's Louis Tomlinson during rehearsals for last night's episode.
Tis the season: Cole brought some festive cheer to the show with her bright red earrings, boots and nail varnish
Described by X Factor choreographer Brian Friedman as 'a meltdown', it is believed the teenage hopeful had to be taken aside and calmed by mentor Cole after screaming at a crew member, 'get out of my face'.
Lloyd was reportedly upset about the introduction to her song and her outfit for the performance.
Strained: Following a meltdown before X Factor's Saturday show Cher Lloyd looked tired as she arrived for tonight's round of the competition
Arriving today, the contestant also looked strained and was typically casually dressed in a purple puffa jacket, jeans and Doc Marten boots.
She - like her mentor - did not smile for the paparazzi.
However, Lloyd must be feeling a surge of confidence in her ability after Simon Cowell admitted on last night's show he was a 'huge fan'.
Meanwhile, One Direction, Matt Cardle and Mary Byrne arrived at the studios looking as laid-back as ever.
Easygoing: One Direction members Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson did not seem worried about tonight's show
Smiling for the cameras and wrapped up warm, they did not appear to be worried about the verdict on their performances set to be announced on tonight's show.
Unlike the rest of the UK, which is waiting with bated breath to see which acts will go on to the next round in this year's competition - surely the most controversial of the series yet.
Confident: Mary Byrne and Matt Cardle looked equally optimistic about their performances as they arrived at the show's London studio
Face off: Mary Byrne (right) was sent home on tonight's X Factor after Simon Cowell chose to save Cher Lloyd following the sing-off
Cher Lloyd is just through to the final of this year's The X Factor, after Mary Byrne was voted off.
Simon Cowell was given the deciding vote after Louis Walsh predictably plumped for his last remaining act Mary, with Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole saving the teenager.
The Tesco checkout worker, who was in the bottom three last week, sang It's A Man's Man's Man's World - which she originally performed during the first week of the live shows.
Gracious: Mary took the decision well as she was joined on stage by her mentor Louis Walsh, who has no more acts left in the competition
Making the deciding vote, Simon said: 'This is quite straightforward. Mary I have supported you from the beginning and tonight proved what a good singer you are.
'Cher, I actually liked that song you just sang. It was like hearing you for the first time. The act I'm sending through to the final is Cher.'
Before the sing-off, the single mother, 50, admitted she 'expected' to be in the bottom two, but later revealed her highlight of the contest had been 'definitely meeting the soldiers and doing the single for the guys in Afghanistan'.
Looking tearful as she took to the stage, Cher, 17, slowed down her usual uptempo songs to sing Britney Spears's 2004 single Everytime.
Sing off: Mary performed It's A Man's Man's Man's World, while Cher sang Everytime
Presenting the 2010 finalists: (L-R) Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Rebecca Ferguson, Cher and Matt Cardle
Simon's boy band One Direction were the first act to find out they were in the the final, to the delight of their mentor, who hadn't spent much time with them this week after suffering from a cold.
The group spent a lot of the week rehearsing as a four-piece after bandmember Zayn Malik went home to Bradford after his grandfather passed away.
Cheryl also stepped in to mentor them after Simon spent a lot of the week in bed with a cold, despite criticising their rendition of Rihanna's Only Girl In The World, because she thought it was too 'current'.
Next to discover their fate was Liverpudlian Rebecca Ferguson, then Matt Cardle - despite his shaky second performance on Saturday night.
The boys are through: Simon Cowell celebrated with One Direction after they become the first to be told they are in the final
The Essex native, 27, had been suffering from tonsillitis most of last week, so admitted his second performance on Saturday, Billy Joel's Always A Woman, 'was not my best performance'.
Last night's episode kicked off with a performance by X Factor 2008 alumni Alexandra Burke, who performed her new single The Silence.
Wearing a flowing white dress, the 21-year-old belted out the ballad before being lifting up into the sky on a harness.
We're through: Rebecca Ferguson and Matt Cardle celebrate after learning they're through to the final
Coming home: X Factor 2008 alumni Alexandra Burke performed her new single The Silence.
Spectacular: Alexandra was lifted up into the air with a troupe of acrobats and violin players at the climax of the song
The song, which is released tomorrow, is the fifth single from the Deluxe edition of her debut album Overcome.
She was followed by members of the cast of Glee, performing the show's stand-out hit Don't Stop Believin' - but appeared to be having major sound problems as the members of the cast took to the stage.
Wearing gold dresses were Lea Michele, Jenna Ushkowitz, Dianna Agron, Amber Riley, Heather Morris and Naya Rivera, while the men Cory Monteith, Mark Salling and Kevin McHale wore all black.
Energetic: The Black Eyed Peas performed their new single The Time (Dirty Bit)
The last guest performance of the night was from The Black Eyed Peas - who also performed last year- with their newest single The Time (Dirty Bit).
No doubt there was time for bandmember Will.I.Am to catch up with his friend Cheryl backstage, who he was romantically linked to following her split from ex-husband Ashley Cole earlier this year.
Will.I.Am helped Cheryl choose her three acts at the judges' houses stage of the competition - when she controversially declined to let Gamu Nhengu through, but put Katie Waissel and Cher through - despite neither being able to complete their song.
Sound problems: The cast of hit U.S. TV show Glee performed Don't Stop Believin'
Will said he was 'torn' between if he wanted Rebecca and Cher to win the show, insisting they were 'very different artists'.
Meanwhile, Dannii made another bid to hang onto her X Factor 2010 style queen award in a stunning strapless lace dress with black pumps.
But Girls Aloud singer Cheryl showed a bit more flesh in a asymmetrical leopard-print 'mullet dress' - called so because of its floor-length back and mini-skirted front.
Fashion face-off: Dannii wore a revealing strapless lace number and black pumps, while Cheryl opted for a risky asymmetrical animal print 'mullet' dress and plain black heels
A new guest judge? Hollywood star Jack Black, who was seated in the audience, threw Simon out of his seat on the judging panel during the ad break
The Results - The X Factor Live Semi-Final Results
Cher Lloyd sings Everytime for survival - The X Factor Live Semi-Final Results (Full Version)
Mary Byrne sings It's a Man's World - The X Factor Live Semi-Final Results
Alexandra Burke performs The Silence - The X Factor Live Semi-Final Results (Full Version)
One Direction sing Chasing Cars - The X Factor Live Semi-Final
The X Factor 2010 - Black Eyed Peas - The Time (Dirty Bit) - Live Performance
Lashing out: Cher Lloyd was snapped angrily waving a spoon at a X Factor crew member after rehearsals for last night's live show
With the final of the X Factor looming, the pressure is on for the remaining five contestants.
But one wannabe is feeling the strain more than anyone as this extraordinary picture shows.
After rehearsals for last night's live show last week, Cher Lloyd lashed out at a crew member and waved a spoon in her face backstage as it all became too much for the youngster.
The singer is seen having a go at the female member of staff and apparently screamed at her to 'get out my face!'
And according to sources who spoke to the People today, she also had a go at One Direction member Louis Tomlinson.
They said: Cher flipped. She was very angry. There were a couple of the boys from One Direction in the room. Louis was the closest and he was staggered at the incident.
'Cher appeared to be someone who is in a bit of a delicate state at the moment. She is finding the competition very tough.'
Understanding: Brian Friedman let Cher off her tantrum because of her young age
And last night, Brian Friedman, who helps the acts with their dance routines every week, revealed that he saw the 17-year-old hit the roof.
Speaking about the incident on the Xtra Factor, the ITV show's spin-off, last night, he said: 'She had a little bit of a meltdown. I don’t know why it happened, I think it had something to do with the song, she wasn’t used to the intro, she hadn’t heard it before she got onstage.
'So she had a bit of a moment and she had some tears and had to step away and Cheryl and her had a pow wow and she came back and she was magical.'
But he said he completely understood why she reacted so badly, and said her age had a lot to do with it. He added: 'I can’t be mad at her, she had to go through it and she’s 17 years old.
Wardrobe issues: Cher's outfit could also been the cause of her strop after switching from a skirt to trousers for the live show
'I think age has a lot to do with it. I know at 17 I was feeling different than I do now. You have a lot of insecurities and things you have to overcome and to overcome them in front of this many people is a lot to do so I’ll give her her tantrum.'
There was also some suggestion that she wasn't happy with her outfits after she wore a lace top and short skirt for rehearsals but swapped the skirt for leather trousers and thigh-high lace up boots for the live show.
Despite her nerves and fears over her semi-final performances, she wowed the judging panel with her two hip hop-themed songs, as Simon Cowell raved that he was a 'huge fan'.
Support: Cher's mentor Cheryl stepped in to calm her down while Simon Cowell told her he was a 'huge fan'
'Not my best performance': Matt Cardle admitted he struggled during his second song on tonight's X Factor
He's been favourite to win this year's X Factor, since the live shows began in October.
But tonight Matt Cardle's potential to clinch the title wasn't looking so certain after he gave a 'safe' performance of Billy Joel's Always A Woman.
After missing most of the week after falling ill with the flu, the 27-year-old admitted his second song of the night was 'not my best performance'.
After suffering from the flu all week, the Essex-native received more positive criticism to his first rendition of You Got The Love by The Source and Candi Staton than his second song.
Following his first song, Louis said: 'Who would have thought you were sick? You are a true professional, you’re consistent every week, consistently good! I think you can win the competition I really do.'
But Simon wasn't so sympathetic, reminding the public that, he too, was sick this week, leaving Cheryl to mentor his group One Direction.
Mixed reviews: Matt received praise for his first song You Got The Love by The Source and Candi Staton, but his second (right) to Billy Joel's She's Always A Woman wasn't so strong
He said: 'Look forget about the fact that you had flu, because I don’t think anybody cares. It was a brilliant choice of song and I like the fact that you were on flavour on it...
'Can I mention that I had a cold this week as well. Having got to know you over the past weeks, I want to vouch for the fact that you are a very sincere, cool contestant!
But his second song didn't go so well, with the former decorator admitting 'that was not my best performance'.
Cheryl admitted she could see his bad health in his eyes: 'I can see by the look in your eyes you feel so ill. Everybody loves you, you've got the support. I hope I see you in the final.'
Divided: Matt's mentor Dannii Minogue accused Simon Cowell of being 'tactical' when he criticised the Joel song
Having praised his first song, Simon wasn't so impressed with the second: 'Unfortunately this was your worst song. It is exactly what you're not.
You're not that safe artist. You shouldn't be singing a song like that you can't put your stamp on...'
After Matt's mentor Dannii accused him of being 'tactical', he replied: 'It's not tactical, I didn't like the song.'
Rebecca Ferguson kicked off the show with powerful rendition of Robin S Nineties dance classic Show Me Love.
After previously being criticised for just standing still during her performances, the Scouse singer, 24, moved around the stage accompanied by a troupe of dancers.
Rebecca finally moves! Rebecca Ferguson performed an energetic ad powerful rendition of Robin S Nineties dance classic Show Me Love
Amid rumours she was getting enough support from her mentor Cheryl Cole, the Geordie judge made sure she was fully appreciative and enthusiastic of her act.
Cheryl told her: 'This song came from Rebecca and we fought and fought and fought for it and it worked people. I'm so proud of you.'
Simon tipped her for the final: 'I loved that this is a side of you we have never seen before. It was so cool, so controlled, your vocals were on the money and this is the first time that you are showing me that you don’t just want to get into the final, you want to win and I like that.'
Her second song saw the single mother-of-two perform Amazing Grace backed by a choir.
'Class act': Rebecca was tipped for the final by all the judges after her second song of the night, Amazing Grace
Louis said: 'You're my favourite contestant ever. You're likeable, you're lovable. you've got star quality. I think you're amazing.'
Simon agreed: 'Absolutely stunning - beginning, middle and end. No tricks, pure sincerity. You are a class act.'
Repeating the same superlatives used by her fellow judges, Cheryl said: 'You are such a sincere, beautiful person inside and out. When you sing you just ooze class and beauty. You're amazing.'
Disco diva to tearjerker: Mary Byrne performed Never Can Say Goodbye before slowing it down with The Way We Were
Favourite to be the next elimination after ending up in the sing-off last week, Mary Byrne initially steered away from the usual ballads with disco classic Never Can Say Goodbye, before slowing down the tempo with Barbra Streisand's The Way We Were.
Overcome with emotion, the Tesco checkout worker, 50, broke down when she revealed it was her late mother Elizabeth's favourite song that she hadn't performed for 15 years.
Although there was a mixed response to Never Can Say Goodbye, the judges universally praised the second slower number.
Emotional: Mary broke down in tears after the Barbra Streisand song, admitting it was her late mother Elizabeth's favourite song
Before finding out Mary's personal link to the song, Dannii said: 'Mary that was a beautiful performance and you look stunning. I don’t know why you’re crying.'
Simon said: 'This is not a time for tears, this is about you. You should be very proud, it was much better than the first song and you are a good singer and it’s about finding the next big pop star.
'I think whatever happens you will sell records, you will have concerts. You are not going back to the Tesco checkout sweetheart.'
Hi-energy: One Direction started off with Rihanna's Only Girl In The World, which Cheryl thought was a 'bit risky' because it was so current
One Direction were the last act of the night to sing with both their first and second songs.
They had limited practice with bandmember Zayn Malik, who spent a lot of the week at home in Bradford after his grandfather died.
The five-piece were also missing their ailing mentor Simon, so were supervised by Cheryl.
They initially performed Rihanna's Only Girl In The World, before Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars.
Maturity: The group won over all five judges with Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars after bandmember Zayn Malik missed a lot of rehearsals after his grandfather died
Even though she had mentored them, Cheryl admitted she wasn't so sure about their Rihanna cover.
She said: 'I love you guys. I thoroughly enjoyed mentoring you. That song was a little bit dangerous cos its so current right now as Rihanna's record that you have to completely make it like it was never ever written for her. I don’t know if it quite worked for me but I hope to see you in the final.'
But Chasing Car did go down well with all four of the judges.
'New twist to English music?' Cher Lloyd performed chart newcomer B.O.B's 2010 hit Nothin' On You
Dannii said: 'Guys, you’ve had a really tough week and that was such a classy classy performance. You’ve grown up before our eyes and we’ve never had such a good band on the X Factor. I’m so proud to see you five on the show.'
Cher Lloyd also received mixed comments from the judges, but defied judge Dannii's comments when the Australian questioned the teenager performing two rap songs.
The 17-year-old tackled two tracks from 2010 - B.O.B's Nothin' On You and Rihanna and Eminem's duet Love The Way You Live.
Following her Eminem rap, Dannii mused: 'It was such a tricky song choice tonight. The rapping was great and with the singing you hit your stride at the end of the song. I would have liked to hear you sing a ballad to get you through to the final.'
Steering away from ballads: Cher tackled a second hip-hop song for her second performance - the Eminem and Rihanna duet Love The Way You Lie
In defence, Cher said: 'Ballads have been done and I wanna bring a new twist to English music and I wouldn't wanna change myself for the world.'
Simon disagreed with Dannii, saying: 'It was a risk taking on Eminem and Rihanna but for me it worked. Again, I don’t think that you’ve sold out. You’ve stuck to the type of music that you believe in and are passionate about.
'There weren’t really any gimmicks, other than the fire and I liked the fact that it was you, raw, doing what you do best. I’m a huge fan, you know that.'
Fashion face off: Dannii Minogue (left) looked elegant in a beige Aurelio Costarella gown, while Cheryl Cole kept it flirty in a white asymmetrical tiered mini-dress
The rivalries are hotting up: All the judges are hoping to see their acts in next week's final
Looking a bit peaky: Cheryl Cole arriving at the X Factor studios this morning in north-west London. She went home early yesterday suffering flu-like symptoms
Cheryl Cole exhausted as Simon Cowell battles flu
Mary Byrne, Matt Cardle and Harry Styles have lost voice
Cher Lloyd's meltdown as she lashes out at camerawoman
The X Factor has been thrown into crisis as Simon Cowell, and two of the show favourites are on the brink of missing tonight’s crucial semi-final after falling ill.
Bookmakers favourite Matt Cardle – who is at odds of 8/11 to win the ITV talent hit – and Mary Byrne both missed yesterday's soundcheck and are desperately battling to be well for this weekend's performances.
There were also renewed health fears for Cheryl Cole, who was sent home yesterday suffering flu-like symptoms.
The 27-year-old singer, who nearly died from malaria this summer, was said to be looking 'tired, drained and exhausted' during the soundcheck.
Arriving at the studios today in a red cardigan, scarf and jeans, Cheryl looked a little bit pale.
Meanwhile, One Direction singer Harry Styles attended yesterday's soundcheck with a scarf around his neck and was forced to communicate through writing notes because his throat was so sore.
Stylish: The judge bundled up in a red cardigan and white scarf, teamed with jeans and black heels
Today he arrived for rehearsals with a sign stuck to his top reading: 'I'm on vocal rest. Can't speak. Thank you.'
Matt, 27, is suffering from tonsillitis and is so unwell that he has gone home to his parents in Essex to try and recover.
Mary, 50, has been suffering from an inflammation of the throat and a source said: ‘She is really ill, she has a temperature and is panicking.’
Feeling the strain: One Direction member Harry Styles is suffering from a sore throat and wore a sign round his neck as he arrived to rehearsals today
Sweet treat: One Direction's Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan enjoy some icecream outside Fountain Studios this morning
Frantic X Factor chiefs spent yesterday locked in talks to come up with a contingency plan if they are hit with this unprecedented situation in the penultimate weekend of the show.
Meanwhile, multi-millionaire Cowell, 51, is suffering with a flu-like virus and spent the day taking mediation, drinking ginger tea and wrapped in a scarf.
A doctor was called to the north London studio and a show source said: ‘Simon is really unwell – he’s desperate to be okay for the show.’
On BBC1 show Strictly Come Dancing performers are allowed to miss one week of the show through health problems.
Running on empty: Show boss Simon Cowell is also under the weather and has been holed up at home recovering from flu
But the same could not really happen for the ITV contest as if Matt and Mary miss the show, then that will leave just three acts to perform tonight.
And with just one week before the live final, set to be watched by more than 20 million fans, it would undoubtedly spark controversy if either contestant were allowed to miss the show.
The plan is that one singer will be voted off the X Factor tomorrow, which means for the first time in the show's history, there will be four contestants vying for the winner's title next Sunday.
The source added: ‘Mary has a fever and we’ve had to bike some antibiotics over to Matt at his parents.
We want our voices back: Mary Byrne is ill with a temperature and suffering from an inflammation of the throat while Matt Cardle has tonsillitis
‘Matt is with his parents and he was not well enough to come to the soundcheck and Mary is ill in bed, which is the best place for her. I don't think we have ever been in this situation before.'
Matt had earlier this week pulled out of a secret concert in London because he was not well enough to perform.
Meltdown: Cher Lloyd smoking earlier this week
He is the favourite to win the show – and the £1 million recording contract with Cowell – and insiders say that he is way out in front in the voting every week. While Tesco checkout worker Mary did perform at the event but is now understood to have lost her voice.
Meanwhile Cher Lloyd reportedly though a wobbly during yesterday's soundcheck. Mentor Cheryl Cole is said to have been forced to step in when her act entered a screaming match with a camerawoman.
Having earlier fluffed her song, Cher is said to have screamed at the production staff member: 'Get out of my face. I'm not a caged animal.'
Last week's rejects Katie Waissel and Wagner, meanwhile, were hitting up the nightclub scene last night with Katie performing a set at London's G-A-Y and Wagner entertaining crowds at a club in Maidstone, Kent.
Throughout his time on the X Factor, Matt has been extremely outspoken. And speaking ahead of tonight's programme, he appeared to criticise the younger acts on the show who 'cry for votes'.
He said: 'Some people say "I've wanted it all my life". You're 16 years old! You've wanted it for a couple of years since you figured you could sing.
Crowd pleaser: The star bonds with the enthusiastic audience
'Try hammering away at it for 12 years, then you can say you've always wanted it. But I am not going to cry about it because I am a man.'
He also seemed to take a dig at last year's winner Joe McElderry, admitting last year's winner was not taken as seriously as other chart stars.
Matt said: 'Bless Joe, he's done so well, but I don't think he's seen like Paolo Nutini or James Morrison and that seems like its because he was on TV.'
Centre of attention: Wagner Carrilho was also doing the rounds, performing at Liquid nightclub in Maidstone, Kent
He added: 'I just want to come out the other side of it credible and be respected for doing what I do. If that can pave the way for other people like myself who have previously thought X Factor is a bit naff and a bit plastic, then brilliant.'
Singer Diana Vickers was forced to miss a week after being hit with laryngitis in the 2008 series. But that was at a much earlier stage in the competition.
Missing a week now would have a crucial impact in the outcome of the result of the competition and any decision would as a result be highly charged.
Cosy: Cheryl Cole looked snug in her outsize bobble hat as she arrives at the X Factor studios for rehearsals today
Cheryl can't save Cher this week as judges lose power in semi-final over who stays or goes
The 17-year-old must rely on public to put her through to final
She's going into the X Factor semi-final in the strongest position with two acts left - but Cheryl Cole ensured she was fighting fit for tomorrow's show by wrapping up in a bobble hat today to ward off any chills.
The judge and mentor still has Cher Lloyd and Rebecca Ferguson in the competition - whereas the rest of the judges have just one act each.
But her 17-year-old charge Cher is convinced she'll be booted out of the show this weekend and fail to reach the final - and there will be nothing Cheryl can do to save her mini-me.
Strides ahead: Cheryl is the only judge and mentor with two acts left as the show reaches the semi-final stage tomorrow
Cher has confessed she's 'scared to death' she won't get though tomorrow's semi after death threats were sent to her home in Malvern, Worcestershire and she was booed on Sunday's results show.
It has also emerged that the fragile singer let rip at show staff after at a one-off X Factor gig in London on Wednesday.
A source told The Sun that Cher was seen 'exchanging cross words' with crew who'd turned up early to the gig to support her in the face of an apparent public backlash.
The insider said: 'Cher flipped out. She looked like she was going to burst into tears...It's getting too much.
Top knot: Cher Lloyd arrived at the X Factor studios today for rehearsals with her hair bundled on top of her head in a bun
'She can't bear the thought that her dream could be over in a few days.'
Cher said of the moment she was booed last week: 'I was mortified...I was scared to death. To have people boo was disgusting. I'm only young and sometimes I panic. That doesn't mean I'm a diva.'
As for the death threats, she refused to take them seriously, saying, 'Nobody's going to kill me, I'm protected by tough people.'
Scared: Cher is said to be convinced she's getting booted off the show this weekend
Nerves: Cher drags on a cigarette yesterday after it emerged that her mentor Cheryl can't save her this weekend as the result is purely down to the public vote
Cher said of the moment she was booed last week: 'I was mortified...I was scared to death/ To have people boo was disgusting. I'm only young and sometimes I panic. That doesn't mean I'm a diva.'
As for the death threats, she refused to take them seriously, saying, 'Nobody's going to kill me, I'm protected by tough people.'
It's also been revealed by Louis Walsh that only one person will be eliminated at the weekend, leaving four acts to battle it out in the final showdown.
He's also confirmed that the four judges will no longer have voting powers to say who gets the boot and who goes through to the final.
The semi-final results on Sunday will be a 'sudden death' purely down to the public vote - with Cher battling it out with the remaining acts, Mary Byrne, Matt Cardle, Rebecca and One Direction.
Strong contender: Rebecca Ferguson waves to the cameras as she arrives for rehearsals today
Meanwhile, it's been confirmed that tomorrow night's show will have two themes - 'club classics' and each contestant's personal choice.
Apparently, Mary will be singing the Gloria Gaynor version of Never Can Say Goodbye and the Gladys Knight version of The Way We Were.
Rebecca hasn't named her tunes, but said of her personal choice: 'It's just one of those songs that everyone knows and loves. I'm excited and I'm proud.'
One Direction meanwhile have teased: 'It's going to be the biggest moment of ours on the show.'
Sunday's results show meanwhile will feature special guest performances from the stars of Glee, Alexandra Burke and The Black Eyed Peas.
Hopeful: Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh, who both only have one act left, are hoping to make it to the final with Matt Cardle and Mary Byrne respectively
On Wednesday, Matt Cardle sparked fears for his health ahead of the semi-finals when he pulled out of a secret official gig.
The 27-year-old said: 'Everything has been feeling poorly recently. I was recording earlier and it was getting very painful, so I can't sing tonight.
'I just have to hope it gets better for the weekend. There is not much else I can do.'
However, he was pictured yesterday at Three Mills Studios in London where he was filming a music video - thought to be the one he will release in the event he wins.
All the semi-finalists have recorded one in time for the final after this weekend's shows.
Zain Malik, 17, from One Direction, also pulled out of performing on Wednesday and did not even attend, citing 'personal family reasons'.
Meanwhile, it's been confirmed that the final will take place over two days - Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th of December - but producers are so far refusing to say how the format will work, or name the eagerly-anticipated big name special guests.
A spokeswoman for the show told Mail Online: 'They're big, big names, that's all we can say right now.'
Bah humbug: X Factor judge Cheryl Cole accessorised with red but left her smile at home
Tis the season: Cole brought some festive cheer to the show with her bright red earrings, boots and nail varnish
Strained: Following a meltdown before X Factor's Saturday show Cher Lloyd looked tired as she arrived for tonight's round of the competition
Easygoing: One Direction members Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson did not seem worried about tonight's show
Confident: Mary Byrne and Matt Cardle looked equally optimistic about their performances as they arrived at the show's London studio
