X Factor bootcamp 'brutal and effective'

The X Factor judges have whittled down the good, the bad and the downright dreadful and tonight viewers will see the final 200 contestants at bootcamp.

Guest judge Nicole Scherzinger is back with Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh as the would-be stars strive to get to the next round.

Walsh warns them there is “nowhere to hide, the real competition starts now” as they are put through their paces with voice training and choreography.

At the end of the day half of the acts will be sent home, but up for grabs is a place in the next round and the chance to perform at the judges’ houses.

With so much at stake, most of the contestants get serious with Cher admitting: “I didn’t know I wanted it this bad”, while Marlon vows that he is “going to fight tooth and nail for this”.

They are split into their categories with the boys, the girls, the groups and the over-28s all given one song to perform with Cowell admitting it is a “brutal and effective way” of getting rid of the deadwood.

It is the groups who really rise to the challenge with acts including Diva Fever and Twem impressing the judges so much Walsh predicts it could be the “best year ever” for groups.

The acts are then put through dance training and Cowell is hopeful, saying he can see “a star in the making” in every category.

But he admits he is a bit worried about the dance lessons, saying: “It’s something we’ve never done before, I’ve got no idea if it’s the right thing or wrong thing. Most of these people, they’ve never danced a step in their lives. So this is going to be difficult.”

And the thought of dancing pushes one contestant, 17-year-old Zain, to the point of rebellion when he refuses to perform.

But Cowell confronts him and asks if he is prepared to “just bottle it”.

With the dancing over, the acts pick a song and have just 24 hours to get it right before performing it for the judges at the bootcamp in London’s Wembley Arena.

Chloe sings 'Wishing On A Star' and admits to being nervous, saying: “I just don’t feel ready to go into the biggest audition of my life.”

:: The X Factor is on at 7.30pm on ITV1 tonight.