The X Factor 2017: Louis Walsh throws Six Chair Challenge into ‘absolute madness’ with dramatic triple sing-off

Walsh also came close to sparking sibling rivalry 
Tense: Lloyd, Stephen and Benji in a triple sing-off
Syco / Thames / ITV
Emma Powell15 October 2017

Louis Walsh threw the Six Chair Challenge into “absolute madness” as he forced three contestants to sing-off against each other and came close to causing a feud between two brothers.

The tensest stage in the X Factor competition reached a dramatic climax as Walsh whittled his boys down to six ahead of Judges’ Houses leaving many in tears and Simon Cowell fuming.

The first seat went to 23-year-old Lloyd Macey who won over Walsh with his rendition of Edwina Hayes’ Feels Like Home.

Next up was brothers Leon and Alex Mallet who took to the stage to sing separately after the sibling duo were split by Cowell at Bootcamp – but Walsh cut short Alex’s dream of becoming a singer after refusing to give him a seat and allowing his brother to continue.

Tough decisions: Louis Walsh was in the hot seat
Syco / Thames / ITV

But he later caused uproar after he took Leon’s seat away from him in favour of barman Aidan Martin. Cowell was fuming and stormed over to Walsh as Scherzinger encouraged the crowd to chant “bring him back”.

Walsh finally gave in, telling the audience “OK, OK,” and calling Leon back to give him a seat. He chose to send Gregor Coleman home, despite him impressing the judges with his version of Coldplay’s Yellow.

It was an easy no for Greggs shop assistant Enèsi Zubairu and 25-year-old Russell Jones who were both outright refused seats. Jones, who won over the judges during the audition stages, was branded “awful” by Sharon Osbourne before Walsh sent him packing.

Anthony Russell, American hopeful Spencer Sutherland, and 17-year-old Benji Matthews, who Cowell branded “corny,” were all given seats – but no one was safe when Walsh opted to grant Jack Mason a seat despite them all being filled.

The music manager called on Benji and Spencer to compete in a sing-off, but still struggling with who to send packing he then called up Lloyd.

The X Factor 2017 launch

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After a tense few minutes he opted to end Benji’s hopes of stardom leaving him with Lloyd, Aidan, Anthony, Spencer, Jack and Leon for Judges’ Houses.

Sunday night’s episode also featured Scherzinger wrapping up her final six which saw her cut short Kevin Davy White’s audition to call back Talia Dean after sending her away in favour of Loverine Fermino.

She also opted to save Essex-born plasterer Matt Linnen at the expense of Glenroy Grant and Tracy Leanne Jefford after a tense performance. The 34-year-old mum from Middlesex left the judges perplexed with her rendition of Grace’s You Don’t Own Me. She then performed it a cappella in a bid to please the judges but she was still struggling. Finally she sang Etta James’ Misty Blue and convinced Scherzinger to take a chance on her, which marked the end of John Lilygreen’s X Factor journey.

Scherzinger will take Talia, Slavko, Kevin, Berget Lewis, Matt and Tracy threw to the next round.

X Factor is on ITV, Saturday at 8:20pm.

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