The X Factor: Final auditions!

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The live finals of The X Factor are one step closer for 12 hopefuls after the final auditions were screened on ITV1.

Saturday's show saw the 24 remaining singers and groups heading to their mentor's homes for one last chance to impress the judges and move on to the next stage.

The boys, mentored by Dannii Minogue, jetted off to the singer's Ibiza residence, with nerves running high.

Rhydian, Leon, Luke, Andy, Charlie and Dominic are the six competing for three places in the live shows - and each had to perform a song for Dannii with only piano accompaniment.

Among the songs chosen were Elton John's Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, performed by Andy, and Queen's Somebody To Love, the choice of operatic singer Rhydian.

However, the strain proved too much for some of the hopefuls, with tears from both Leon and Luke following their auditions.

The groups, meanwhile, attempted to impress Simon Cowell at his home in Marbella.

The line-up includes hastily assembled groups Hope and Futureproof - both of whom were formed from rejected boot camp singers in just 24 hours.

They competed against brother-sister duo Same Difference, trio Ghostt, harmonious ensemble I Sette Cantante and girl band W4 - who presented Simon with a dilemma when he appeared unable to choose between them and Hope.

"They'd be a nightmare to work with," he said of the latter.

The over 25s jetted off to Louis Walsh's home in Dublin, where Niki, Zyta, Icaro, Beverley, Dan and Daniel did their bit to try and impress their mentor.

Niki - who revealed she had battled depression and struggled with her weight - sang Whitney Houston's One Moment In Time, while the quirky Icaro delivered his rendition of Radiohead's Creep.

Finally the girls - Kimberley, Kim, Vicki, Steph, Alesha and Emily - went to Sharon Osbourne's house in Los Angeles for their final audition.

Their songs included Christina Aguilera's Beautiful, sung by Emily, and Kim's rendition of The Bangles' Eternal Flame.

"It's down to business," Sharon told the girls. "I want to see a star out here today."

The 12 finalists will be revealed on Sunday evening's show.

Source: http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/news/2063