'Familiar faces' return for X Factor auditions

Updated

The X Factor will see a number of familiar faces returning to the competition, as the latest episode airs tonight.

Monica Michael is hoping the judges - Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw - offer her a second chance with her performance of Impossible, originally sung by Christina Aguilera.

The 25-year-old aspiring singer from north London narrowly missed out on a place at the judges' houses stage when she entered the ITV show last year.

Saffron Silva, Abby Eades and Leah Gooden, from Surrey, got knocked back by Louis Walsh last year at the judges' houses, when they were put in a five-piece girl group.

This year, they are back, performing Blackstreet's No Diggity as new trio Rumour Has It.

Viewers will have to wait and see whether they impress the judges enough to be successful and get through to the next round.

Jade McGuire, a 30-year-old receptionist and single mother-of-two from Glasgow, is hoping for another crack at glory after being a member of group Pop. The four-piece released three singles in the early 2000s, before splitting up.

There was also another surprise for Cowell, who recognised Alex Boye from his America's Got Talent audition.

The fifth instalment of the auditions also sees Italian singing teacher Davide Papasidero, who is hoping to follow in the footsteps of finalist Andrea Faustini.

The 25-year-old, who was a finalist on the Italian edition of The X Factor in 2011, dons wings as he puts his spin on Aretha Franklin's hit Respect.

Papasidero's performance left Cowell bemused, who remarked: "I thought it was nuts - and I love nuts."

Cowell also received a lapdance and a kiss from Manchester mother Jenesa Gill, to which he joked: "I like your hips, I like your lips, but I wasn't crazy about the singing."

Other contestants who appear in the episode include gospel groups Bekln and Silver Tone, who are both made up of members of the London Community Gospel Choir.

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