The X Factor - It's Time to Face the Music: Week 8

It's the week before the semi-finals and Jukebox week - meaning we were able to choose one song for the finalists to perform, with celebrity artists One Direction, Emeli Sandé, Sam Smith, Little Mix and Tulisa picking their acts other songs. 

Yep, the acts will each be giving us two performances tomorrow night, which surely means double the pressure. 

Tensions are bound to be high, with all judges having only one act each left - apart from Simon, who has two. With Andrea being in the sing-off last week, and rightly so, in my opinion, the competition could go any way. 

I'm still a tad sad that we won't be seeing Stevi strut his stuff on stage - but I'm sure this lot will keep us just as entertained!

Here's what the five remaining finalists will be singing:

Boys

Andrea Faustini -  Hero (Viewers Choice) AND Candelier

                                                              

Girls

Lauren Platt - Don't You Worry Child (Viewers Choice) AND Clarity

Groups

Stereo Kicks - Run (Viewers Choice) AND Just The Way You Are

Overs

Ben Haenow - Thinking Out Loud (Viewers Choice) AND Come Together

Fleur East - If I Ain't Got You (Viewers Choice) AND A Fool In Love

HOLLYOAKS: The Game

We all love the crazy, mad Hollyoaks life, right?

Well, we can now live it ourselves - kind of - in the form of the new Hollyoaks game, which allows you to become the newest resident of the village, exploring  a virtual version of Hollyoaks, as well as stepping into the interiors of The Dog, The Hutch, Price Slice, the McQueen house and many more, while completing various challenges and 100 different levels.

Twelve of the show's popular characters, including Ste Hay, Darren Osborne, Theresa McQueen and Tom Cunningham all feature, with the ultimate aim of the game - solving the mystery of Nana McQueen's missing pearls.

The game looks quite familiar to The Sims, on first look, as shown above, but finding the mystery pearl thief won't be easy. In true Hollyoaks style, there are twists and turns ahead and anyone could be a suspect.

To help you along your way, you'll receive texts and voicemails from your favourite characters, as well as being able to unlock 'selfies' to make and share photos with them, too.

Head to the Hollyoaks website to download the game, which is available from the Apple Store, Google Play and Amazon (Android).

A Hollyoaks spokesperson commented:
"We are really excited to announce the game which will fill the spaces when Hollyoaks is off-screen. We hope that fans will enjoy seeing the imagined world of Hollyoaks and interacting with characters on the set while sharing scores with friends."


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EASTENDERS - The Speed Picks Up for Lucy

It's almost December, which means there's just over three months until EastEnders' 30th birthday and the reveal of all reveals - Who Killed Lucy Beale...

Now, we know that over the Christmas and New Year period, it will be made clear who didn't do it, so keep your eyes peeled. We also know that following Denise's crucial discovery of Lucy's phone and purse last night, which we know were buried by Jay and Ben, that more secrets are set to tumble out.

Ben will apparently make a confession and Lee Carter, while watching a video of Good Friday's party on Lola's phone, will lead him to realise that someone lied about their alibi and whereabouts on the night Lucy was killed.

My conclusion: Whitney lied? She's Lee's girlfriend, so the one person who he'd be concerned about telling porkies. He also know's that Whitney and Lucy weren't the best of mates leading up to her death.
As for Ben...maybe he went to mug someone that evening of Good Friday, as we know he and Jay were robbing an off license, and realised afterwards that the person he attacked was Lucy? In a panic, once finding out that Lucy was found dead, Jay and Ben came up with the plan to hide the belongings they stole from her... Hence Jay's secret calls to Ben at the time.

Online whispers are that Lola killed Lucy (why?) or maybe Abi (possibly, but she and Max already have something to hide about that night...) as they're the only two people that Ben, and most definitely Jay, would cover for.
Others are saying Lee - but I don't think it'll be a Carter - they have enough upset and drama going on to bring them full throttle into Lucy's story, in my opinion.

As I've said before, any of the obvious ones I doubt it'll be.

Jane is an interesting one. Ben Hardy, who plays Peter Beale, thinks Jane or Ian (accidentally) could both be good suspects as the culprit.

I don't think it's Ian. I'll be disappointed if so, as a very good part of this storyline has been the effect Lucy's loss has had on Ian and his family. And I also don't see how or why Ian would kill his daughter, accidentally or not. This also goes for Peter. Yes, there may have been jealousy in Twindom, but by no means do I think it would have led to Lucy being left on Walford Common. If anything, I'd imagine both Ian and Peter having crumbled by now and confessed. The shot when Ian broke the news about Lucy to Peter - the silence in the Square, and Peter's pained response - was, surely, too beautiful a scene to then have a reveal that it was one of these who killed her.

Back to Jane, however... As much as I don't see why she'd want to do it, maybe something happened off-screen to cause it? She's not high on my list of suspects, but who is? I'm still at a loss with a stand out murderer, but I do believe that we should be looking out now for little lines, looks and clues which could point us in the right direction.

Remember that Dominic Treadwell-Collins has already said that the person who killed Lucy doesn't necessarily have to be caught and punished. So it really could be anyone - and not just somebody easily disposed or leaving the soap.

We might find out who did it in February, but Ian and his family might be kept in the dark for a little longer.

Are you any nearer to guessing Who Killed Lucy Beale?

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THE X FACTOR - Double elimination sees Stevi and OTY leave

How did you all like Elton vs Whitney week? 

The shock of the weekend was definitely Stevi's performance... No, not the Egyptian 'I'm Still Standing' rendition (which was special to say the least!) but his sing-off last night... Once again he showed that he does have some good vocal talent and I wish he'd used them more in the Saturday night shows. 

It was Stevi's week to go, though, as he was up against judge favourite Andrea. Only Simon saved his Stevi, and commented that more passion was shown during his performance than Andrea's and I have to agree. Andrea's Saturday night performance was also not up to par in my opinion, and I agree with entertainment journo Dan Wooton in that Andrea's becoming too much of a one trick pony. 

The double elimination also saw Only The Young go home on Saturday. I'm not sure if I was surprised by this or not, but for me, Stereo Kicks are proving themselves to be the stronger group... 

Highlight of the performances? Ben and Fleur yet again. I love how Ben changed I Will Always Love You into a version of his own and disagreed when Cheryl said taking a risk was too much at this stage. Surely that's better than being the same each week?!

Next week the final five sing two songs - one of which will be chosen by us viewers in a Jukebox theme. 

Head over to the X Factor website on tap the app before 11am today to have your choices heard... 

I've picked mine!

The X Factor: It's Time to Face the Music & another DOUBLE ELIMINATION - Week 7

Between Whitney's power ballads and Elton's mix of rockin' tunes and slow love songs, we're in for a pick 'n' mix of treats tomorrow night on The X Factor. 

But it's going to be a tense night as the powers that be have dropped another double elimination on to our contestants. 

The person with the least amount of votes will leave straight away on Saturday night and the second during Sunday's usual results show. (Did I do my Dermot bit okay, there?!) 

Would you choose an Elton track or a Whitney sing-a-long? 

Here's what the remaining finalists will be entertaining us with: 

Boys
Andrea Faustini - I Have Nothing

Girls
Lauren Platt - How Will I Know?

Groups
Only The Young - Something About The Way You Look Tonight

Stereo Kicks - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Overs
Ben Haenow - I Will Always Love You

Fleur East - I'm Every Woman

Stevi Ritchie - I'm Still Standing

HOLLYOAKS - Mercedes seems dead, but was Freddie the killer?

As I suspected, Mercedes McQueen was (or at least seemed to be) murdered in last night's E4 Hollyoaks. 

After blackmailing Freddie and Lindsey, having witnessed their kiss - and then ruining Carmel's funeral in her drunken state - Mercy was at rock bottom, with her family accusing her of stealing Carmel's ring and mum Myra saying she wished it were Mercedes who was dead. 

Packing her bags after finding a ticket in her name to Alicante, Mercy assumed that Freddie had found the cash to send her on her way. But one sinister shadow and a swipe of a knife later saw Mercedes come face to face with someone who was about to kill her. 

But was it just one shadow at the door?

Take a looks at these photos:

 

Speculation online has come up with the theory that we're being lead to believe Freddie's the culprit. As the shadow above definitely proves to look like him...

 

 

Yet in the one above here, the shadowy figure is wearing a hoodie and looks much shorter than Freddie.

 

Maybe Freddie was on his way to threaten Mercedes, as Lindsey had asked him to stop her spilling the beans to Joe, and stumbled across someone else getting there first and killing her.

 

He ran away looking shaken by what he'd just witnessed?

Or, knowing he could be the prime suspect, he cleaned up the mess left behind by the mystery murderer?

Hollyoaks fans have been guessing that the small frame of the mystery person could mean that Lindsey was behind Mercy's stabbing. I don't think this would be case... Or others are guessing at Silas' return? Or maybe it was Freddie and the other shadow witnessed him doing the deed or is just a red herring?

Jennifer Metcalfe has even spoken of the mystery around her exit, in a Story of Mercedes video released by Hollyoaks, Jen hinted that the exact details of what happened could stay under wraps for a while.

She said: "Mercedes's departure is totally shrouded in mystery. Running up to the week where she exits, she has really annoyed pretty much everyone in the village, so it's 'who's done it?' Who has she got involved with? What's gone on off-screen? Is it all as it seems?"

 

That tells me that the police will be going down the wrong path, should they accuse Freddie.

 

I'm looking forward to finding out what happens over the coming weeks. Are you?

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EASTENDERS - Peter Beale's leaving the Square. Why? How?

It's been confirmed today that Ben Hardy, who plays Peter Beale, will leave EastEnders at the end of his current contract.

I revealed recently that it's been rumored that Peter will go down the same drug path as his murdered twin, Lucy, meaning there could be an endless list of possibilities to how Peter could bow out of Albert Square.

Will Peter tragically die from a drug overdose?

Will he decide to leave girlfriend Lauren for a permanent move to New Zealand - where he's currently holidaying and visiting his brother, Steven?

Or is Peter Lucy's secret killer?

It's not been said whether the exit is Ben's decision or that of EastEnders...

If Peter does die - due to drugs, or another means - how will Ian cope with the death of both his twin children? And if Peter is revealed as Lucy's killer, it will mean he'll be off at the beginning of the year, coinciding with his girlfriend, Lauren Branning's, temporary departure, as actress Jacqueline Jossa goes on maternity leave.

His exit could also lead to Lauren's get-away - will she turn back to drink because of Peter's fate?

Either way, this will surely open up a whole new set of roads for both the Beale and Branning families to go down... And I'd put a bet on that it won't be a happy ending!

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