THE X-FACTOR 2011 – ITV 1 SATURDAY 27 AUGUST @ 8.00pm

UK | ITV 1 | 60 minutes

Dermot O’Leary hosts the new eighth series of The X-Factor, which continues with the second set of auditions. Thousands of hopefuls have lined up around the country, waiting for their nail-biting moment in the spotlight in front of a live audience and the judges. This is the performers’ only chance to impress the panel and make it through to the next stage. Auditions come from Cardiff, London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester and, for the first time, contestants can upload an audition video to YouTube.

After the audition and bootcamp rounds are over, successful acts will be split into four sections – boys (aged 16 to 28), girls (aged 16 to 28), over-28s and groups – before the live rounds.

Last week’s show saw the debut of the new judging line-up: returning panellist Louis Walsh was joined for the first time by Take That legend Gary Barlow, Destiny’s Child star and solo artist Kelly Rowland and Tulisa Contostavlos of NDubz.  Of course Simon Cowell has taken something of a back seat and the whole drama of Cheryl Cole’s will she won’t she seems to have died down somewhat now the show has actually started.