Two songs this week, meaning two chances for the artistes to shine and two opportunities for me to run down the MacDonalds.

Leona – ‘Lady Marmalade’

I’m normally a big fan of Leona but there was something not right going on here. She should have been capable of sizzling up the stage with this raunchy tune but somehow managed to completely de-raunch it.

She seemed uncomfortable with the change of gear and I found myself yearning for her to get back to ballad territory.

Simon claimed it was “on the money” but for me it was her worst effort for weeks. Her worst is still better than some of the others best, however.

MacDonald Brothers – ‘When You Say Nothing At All’

I’m not being nasty on purpose, I promise you, but I absolutely hated this truly nasty - almost saccharine - version of a song that I normally quite like.

They big up their harmonies but they merely grate on me and the loving glances they shoot at each other during their performances border on disturbing.

Ben – ‘Live and Let Die’

Maybe Ben is the true one trick pony in this competition because on a track that should have given him ample opportunity to show off some dynamic rock vocal styling, what we actually was some husky shouting.

He is better than this.

Disappointing.

Eton Road – ‘Everybody Needs Someone To Love’

They sort of put me in mind of the sort of act that used to open Seaside Special back in the seventies.

It all felt rather camp and very very dated but somehow it kind of worked and this was a marked improvement on the last two weeks.

If they were only going to get to do one song I’d have agreed with Simon that it was a strange song choice but at least they’d get the chance to be a bit more boyband like later in the evening.

Ray – ‘The Way You Look Tonight

Perched on a stool as the song began, Ray looked for all the world like a ventriloquist’s dummy and the vocal may not have sounded too much worse if he hadn’t moved his lips.

The song may have called for a more mature voice than Ray could muster and it wasn’t the standard I’d have expected in the last five of this show.

Half Time Report

Not one act seemed to jump out of the box with what I’d call a stand-out performance in the first half of the show, though the judges’ comments didn’t reflect that. I pondered whether I was being too harsh but a quick replay of a couple of the performances confirmed to me my earlier judgement.

Leona – ‘I Will Always Love You’

I actually got the tingle factor during this. Whether it was down to the undoubted star quality in Leona’s voice or the particularly delicious guacamole that I was dipping into at the time was difficult to say, but it was a special moment.

MacDonald Brothers – ‘500 miles’

Perhaps they should sing Proclaimers songs every week because this style actually suited them down to the ground.

I’ll admit it, my foot was tapping and this was their best and most charismatic effort, not just by a street but by an entire A to Z.

Ben – ‘Your Song’

Miles better than the earlier effort but there seemed very little effort to sell the song. His eyes were all over the place and there wasn’t any effort to make us believe what he was singing.

Eton Road – ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’

Stunning.

In a bad way.

Enough to make kings and vagabonds vote for anyone but Eton Road.

Very messy vocals and a performance that was so lacking in heart and charisma that I felt they’d stolen the MacDonalds’ mojo.

Disappointing.

Ray – ‘Jailhouse Rock’

Let’s rock. Ray certainly did in an effort that showcased his talent brilliantly.

I don’t see him being the next big thing in terms of music sales but he’ll certainly shift tickets in musical theatre.

This was Ray at his best.

The Verdict

I wasn’t totally surprised by the bottom two this week. Eton Road just haven’t been living up to their potential in recent shows while Ben was decidedly under par this week.

Simon was right to save Ben but it’s a decision he could yet regret if Sharon’s last remaining act can find his form again.