X Factor 2009: Live week three

Olly Murs gets big band week off to a swinging start with his version of Bewitched - cavorting around the stage with two dancers dressed as witches.

Michael Buble had expressed doubts about the Essex boy's song choice but Olly proved him wrong and the judges loved it.

"Olly, you are the dark horse of this contest," Louis told him. "You can sing and you can dance and you are very, very likeable."

Cheryl was also impressed, saying: "You're really coming into your own each week, I'm really gonna enjoy watching you each week as you get better and better"

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Lloyd Daniels spends most of his version of Fly Me To The Moon rooted to the spot like a rabbit in the headlights, moving only to do a backflip midway through the song.

Louis says: "I think you need to be in a band. I think as a solo artist you're a bit lost. I don't think the backflip was good."

Cheryl and Dannii both give him props for the backflip, although neither are overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

Simon tells him he needs to gain some confidence, before adding: "Doing a backflip singing Fly Me To The Moon is like eating a sandwich and swimming. It doesn't work. You're better than that."

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Miss Frank are performing the song that put them on the map in the auditions, That's Life - and despite some shocking outfits they hit it for six.

We're not sure about the rap, but the judges don't seem bothered by it.

"Back in the race," Dannii tells them, while Cheryl says she "absolutely loved it".

Simon says: "This is the first time since the live shows since started that I've started to believe in you as a group.

"You look so different to last week, you look fantastic, you sounded much better and I can now see the chemistry, especially you Graziella. You can take criticism and take it on the chin, you came back fighting and I hope you stay in the competition."

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Rachel Adedeji has been given a mini-makeover in a bid to stop her being in the bottom two, gone is the Rihanna hair and instead she's dressed like Bertie Bassett on a night out in Romford.

Her swing version of Proud Mary impresses the judges and Louis says: "I don't understand why people don't vote for you, you're an amazing singer."

Cheryl and Simon both say it's like looking at a different performer - and her mentor Dannii is also full of praise.

It's all a bit much for the poor 18-year-old, who gets a bit hysterical and starts blabbering as though she's won an Oscar.

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It seems Jamie Archer and Simon have had a bit of a barney over his song, and he's switched to U2's Angel of Harlem just 24 hours before the live show - but hasn't bothered with a big band arrangement.

Louis is irate, saying: "This is big band week and you come out and sing a U2 song. I just feel it's cheating a little bit. I'm not blaming you, I'm blaming Simon."

Dannii calls him a "true pro", but Cheryl says she preferred him the previous week.

Simon decides the best defence is to go on the offence, saying Louis is acting like "somebody who works for the council with a clipboard".

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Stacey Solomon is dolled up to the nines to sing When You Wish Upon a Star - and Louis is impressed.

He says: "All I can say is wow, what a transformation! Everybody loves you Stacey."

Cheryl says she looks "like a princess" but that it "wasn't the best I've heard you sing" - and Simon agrees that "you looked better than you sounded".

He continues: "It was just a little bit robotic. You've got to learn some performance skills."

Dannii explains that Stacey's had a tough week and lost her confidence.

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Danyl Johnson delivers a faultless version of Feeling Good, and the judges don't have a bad word to say - even if Simon would like them to have more good words.

Louis says: "Some people were born to sing, you owned the stage, I think it was the most authentic performance of the night."

Dannii praises him for making his own version and says it "was very good", while Cheryl says it was "another great song from Danyl Johnson".

Simon is underwhelmed by their comments, and protests: "Look I think we need to remind ourselves here, what we're looking for is someone to represent this country, in my opinion that was in a completely different league to what we've heard so far."

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When we hear that 18-year-old Joe McElderry is performing Sway and learning a sexy dance we can't help but fear for the worst - but somehow he pulls it off.

"You're going to be in this competition until the very, very end," Louis tells him.

Dannii says "there's no-one who makes me smile more" and Simon says: "I have to hand it to you, you just rise to the challenge.

"You've got about as much latin flair as a dolphin, you just need to prove you're a recording artist, not just a cutesy performer."

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Lucie Jones gives the performance of the night, with a sensational version of My Funny Valentine.

"That was a very, very amazing performance," says an obviously impressed Louis.

Cheryl says: "For the past two weeks, there was something that wasn't connecting, tonight you've proved me wrong, that was effortless, the first thing that has given me goosebumps tonight."

But Simon'a playing hard to get and says she was good, but a bit "like an actress".

Louis and Dannii both give him a ticking off, with Dannii saying: "Can I just say that was sensational, it was so classy, this was amazing and I don't appreciate Simon's comments, as you cannot fault that performance."

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They're back! John and Edward close the show with a spirited take on She Bangs - which includes a fair bit of frolicking with the scantily clad dancers.

Dannii says: "You were the luckiest brothers ever tonight, those girls around you... I'm really torn here as I don't know what to say, the singing isn't the standard to follow Alexandra Burke but it was a great performance."

Cheryl is similarly conflicted and admits she they're her "guilty pleasure".

Simon can barely bring himself to comment, but eventually says: "Let me be constructive, if I heard that on the radio it would be the worst thing I've ever heard but I give you some credit for putting on a show, having fun, then I take it back to being a singing competition and this is appalling."

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