'X Factor' Show Two 'Love & Heartache' - Live Blog

With quadruple eliminations, tweed suits, dramatic performances and more tears than a dreadful Meg Ryan rom-com, week one of the X Factor live shows got off to a spectacular start last weekend.

Tonight the remaining 12 acts will return to the stage to perform songs about love & heartache (warning: may contain Whitney, Mariah and Snow Patrol) and for the first time will face the public vote.

Stick with Digital Spy from 7.45pm for full commentary and our verdict on the performances. Join the fun by leaving your views at the bottom of the page and Tweeting us at @dsrealitybites.

21:46: Best acts of the night? Misha B, Kitty, and Rhythmix for me. The worst? Well, Nu Vibe are doomed. Marcus, Sami and maybe even Sophie are in trouble because they didn't stand out. Frankie was the weakest performance of the night. He'll be banking his hair gets him those vital teen votes, though, and that might save him at this early stage.

21:45: If Kitty stayed silent after her performances and was mute in her VTs, she'd stand a chance of winning. But sadly, keeping her quiet is like trying to stop Louis Walsh gushing over a boyband on stools. Never going to happen.

21:41: Maybe, I'm going mad as well. That was my favourite performance of the evening. A Mad Hatter's tea party-themed rendition of Bjork's 'It's Oh So Quiet'. It's strong vocally and an incredible routine. All the judges agree that she deserves to stay. The only problems come when she suddenly starts talking.

21:38: It's Kitty-time. She's battling against the boo brigade. "How dare they?" she whines. Her cocky nature is bound to endear her to the nation. Ahem. And then Louis Walsh compares her to Prince. Yes, you heard me. Madness.

21:35: So who are we waiting for... ooh, it's Kitty. Don't go changing your channel. You're in for a treat!

21:29: Sophie is worried that she's going unnoticed because she doesn't make headlines. That rendition of 'Wherever You Will Go' wasn't too shabby though. Could do with a bit more glam and a sprinkling of pizazz. She's not going home after that performance though. I repeat, Nu Vibe are doomed.

21:26: It's Peter Dickson's highlight of the evening. Sophie HAB-IB-IS!

21:22: The Risk haven't managed the 'standing up off the stools' segment of the classic boyband routine and remain seated. It will come with time, guys. Gary Barlow describes them as "pure class". Louis Walsh predicts chart domination. Tulisa does a dodgy Scottish accent. Everyone's getting very giddy. It was okay... but I wasn't as blown away as the judges. Once again, I repeat, Nu Vibe are doomed.

21:21: X Factor boyband stools and keychange alert! HRNK! And not a Westlife in sight.

21:18: Last group of the night? It's The Risk of course. An excuse for some dreadful "risk" punning from Louis. You have been warned.

21:10: Louis Walsh has found his "urban queen". A stunning soulful number from Misha as she storms 'Would I Lie To You?' Gary Barlow nails it. "You look like a guest star, not another contestant." Is it a case of race for second space? Has Misha already got this series in the bag? Loving the shiny pink bodysuit as well, with giant shoulder pads and plenty of boob on show. Funnily enough, I'm wearing exactly the same outfit on the sofa right now.

21:06: Four acts to go. We're on the home straight, people. Hold strong. Up next... Misha Bryan. Or Misha B. I'm not sure when she officially lost the "-ryan" from her second name. I might start calling myself Alex F from now on though. It sounds a lot cooler.

21:01: Louis Walsh declares them "the next... big... girl band!" An unusual twist on his favourite boyband catchphrase. Never say Louis's predictable! That was one of the strongest performances of the night, despite the unpleasant production. The judges are really backing these girls as well. Judging from the panel's gushing praise for the girls, Nu Vibe look even more doomed.

20:57: Rhythmix are up next. Can they escape the girl band curse? We get glimpses of previous failures Girlband, Bad Lashes and Kandy Rain. Three seconds of Kandy Rain. That's longer than their first stint on the show, right? Rhythmix are covering 'Like A Bird' from Nelly Furtado. They've given the song an 'edgy' reworking. i.e. it now has an irritating electronic backbeat and some rapping. The "yoofs" will love it.

20:55: Some dreadful styling on The X Factor tonight. Marcus looks like he's walked out of a Phil Collins pop video in 1987.

20:53: Louis Walsh and Gary Barlow can't agree on song choices tonight. Louis doesn't think Marcus was comfortable with Rihanna. Kelly says that he "needs to get more emotional", which I'd agree with. He needs to open himself up more for viewers.

20:51: A stripped-back Rihanna cover from Marcus with some cheap flame stage production, last used on Take That's '96 'Relight My Fire' tour (possibly).

20:50: Self-styed "cheeky Scouser" Marcus Collins up next. He's my hot tip to win. I did also back Amelia Lily. So, see you on Daybreak on Monday, Marcus?

20:42: "He looks like he's in Aladdin!" moans misery guts Barlow. "He can rub my lamp anytime," is the comeback. It's got all very Carry On The X Factor. Barlow doesn't want Johnny to become "the joke act". I think it might be too late for that, Gazza.

20:40: Oof, it reminds me of an awful night in an Amsterdam massage parlour that I'd tried to erase from my memory banks. Japanese-themed Kylie Minogue, camper than a row of tents, wonky dance moves and utterly surreal.

20:37: Barlow and Louis Walsh exchange some glares and devilish looks. Barlow jokes that Frankie should have sung 'I Will Always Love You'. The gag goes about four miles over Louis's head. Anyway, talking of swagger... here's Johnny Robinson. And he's singing Kylie's 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head'. Well, it's not going to be dull.

20:33: Frankie wheezes his way through Coldplay's 'The Scientist'. He remembers the words. That's about the only positive that I can take out of that. Louis Walsh thinks he's lost his "swagger". Kelly Rowland shocked by Louis's comments and claims that he's not allowed to use "that word" ever again. She's like an embarrassed teenager with her dad on the panel. Their bickering distracts from a ropey old performance from Cocozza.

20:29: Frankie Cocozza up next. Half boy, half hair. He's doing a Coldplay number. He forgot the words in rehearsals. Less time on the hairspray and back-combing. More time with your lyrics Frankie.

20:24: A really sweet performance from Devlin. But maybe I'm biased? I'm a big fan of the flame-haired youngster. Louis loves her "Celtic soul". Tulisa rambles for a while, but I think she loves it. Kelly Rowland thinks her granddad would be proud. Time for another ad break (not nearly enough of them for my typing fingers' liking) and then we've got Johnny Robinson.

20:20: Devlin's singing 'Can't Help Falling In Love'. A HUGE song for a little girl. But it's dedicated to her granddad who died this week. Hopefully that can add some emotional clout to her soft vocals.

20:19: Janet Devlin is the first girl up this evening. She reveals that she's a heavy metal fanatic. Bring on Metallica week and the Devlinator's 'Enter Sandman', I say.

20:17: Gary Barlow says that Craig is in a "league of your own". He also gives himself a backslap for the song choice. Kelly is less impressed by the tune selection. Did you know, she was once in a band with Beyoncé?

20:14: Craig's doing 'Best Thing I Never Had'. He's got on a leather jacket. Neither is really working for me. There's plenty of big notes though and he'll have plenty of weeks to perform more suitable songs. He concludes with his signature snarl. It's going to be called 'The Colton Mouth' from now on. I'm trademarking it.

20:12: Craig Colton's up next. Biscuit boy. A hot favourite as well. He should be in his element with Love & Heartache.

20:10: Jane McDonald to duet in the X Factor final? You heard it here first. Move over George Michael and Rihanna.

20:05: If you're playing an X Factor drinking game you're probably on the floor right now. "Nailed it" and "put it down" are wheeled out by Kelly and Tulisa. Gary Barlow wheels out the "cruise ship" insult. Sami laps it up and claims that she loves cruise ship legend Jane McDonald. It's the first time Jane McDonald has been mentioned on primetime telly for about a decade, I think.

20:04: Sami claims the song reminds everyone of a time in their life. It reminds me of being forced to sit though the sodding Bodyguard and hating every moment.

20:02: Sami is tackling 'I Will Always Love You'. Blooming brave lass taking this one on. She's got a weird haircut/wig thing going on as well that's very distracting. It makes her look even more like Sonia from EastEnders than normal.

20:00: It's Louis Walsh time. The first ace up the Irishman's sleeve? Sami Brookes. Aka - the one who got pushed out by Goldie Cheung.

7.54pm: They're going top struggle to survive after that performance. Gary Barlow nicks Louis Walsh's "no vibe" gag. Come on Gazza, come up with your own funnies. The group need more "gel", apparently.

7.52pm: Oof, someone call an ambulance. U2 are being murdered on stage. Nu Vibe tackle a dance-y version of 'With or Without You'. It's appalling. The biggest production, wooshes and fizzes in the world can't cover up their wonky vocals.

7.50pm: Nu Vibe have been handed the 'death slot' and are first up. Tough gig for the lads. Especially as it looks like they can't stand the sight of each other.

7.48pm: Hello judges. No sexy farmer tweed from Barlow this week, sadly. Louis's been busy down the Tan-tastic centre by the look of his glowing skin. Tulisa is sticking with her weird arm-thrusting pose. She's thrown in a wink, but it still looks bonkers.

7.47pm: Dermot's in the house. And we get a reluctant spin from our host. He's dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. Of course he isn't really. He's in a grey suit. As always.

7.44pm: Hold on to your hats. Peter Dickson is in the house. No more 'big twists' this week. Just one elimination. You guys have the power to save the acts. Normal service is resumed. So no more complaining about Kitty Brucknell, people. You have the power to get rid.

7.40pm: Hello! Good evening! Thanks for joining us across the evening as we live blog this week's X Factor extravaganza. I hope you've got a box of tissues with you - it's a Love & Heartache theme. Expect Adele covers, quivering bottom lips and plenty of drama.