With the last of the X Factor 2006 auditions coming to a close in Birmingham and London, the judges were finally told which category each of them would be mentoring for the forthcoming X Factor battle.

Simon Cowell looked positively delighted by the news that he would be mentoring the group which Sharon and Louis both wanted, the 16 - 24’s.

On being told that Sharon was to mentor the 25 and overs she screeched with delight and said “I can’t believe it!”

However, despite Louis expressing beforehand that he did not wish to get the groups because “some of them don’t have the X Factor”, he tried to wish them upon Simon by saying “he should get them, he deserves them.” Louis looked rather disappointed when he was informed that he would indeed be mentoring the groups saying “Oh, OK. God help them!”

On last weekends X Factor viewers were shown scenes of Sharon Osbourne being told her house was on fire, causing her to leave the Dublin auditions for only Simon and Louis to judge.

It has emerged that these scenes were in fact a ‘re-construction’, and that cameras failed to catch the moment when Kelly Osbourne, daughter of Sharon Osbourne, called to give her mother the news.

An X Factor insider revelaed “None of it had been caught on camera, so they then set up some shots of her getting the call.
Sharon was obviously upset about the fire - but once she realised everyone was OK she thought it would make great TV so she played it up.”.

One singer who really stood out from the crowd in last weeks X Factor auditions was Ben, who sang a Sam Cooke number and sounded amazing. Ben, who erects marquees for a living got a “yes” from Louis, Simon, Sharon and guest judge Paula Abdul, putting him through to boot camp.

Simon commented that it’s a long time since he’s heard someone who can sing an R&B classic like Ben did and Paula Abdul commented that his voice was “authentic” and “nice.” Also impressed with him was last year’s X Factor Brenda who commented that “he really pulled it out of the bag and gave it some soul.”

Last year’s group Eskimo Blonde were in for a huge shock at this years X Factor auditions in Leeds as they bumped into their former band member, Harri, who they had not seen for a year. After last year’s X Factor 2005 experience, Harri quit Eskimo Blonde to go solo and had not seen the other two members of the band since then, until they met in the 2006 audition waiting room.
Harri was the first to audition and really impressed all three judges with Simon saying “with the right attitude and the right self-belief you could be very good” and described her as having “one of the most distinct voices we’ve had.”

Next was Eskimo Blonde’s turn to audition with their new replacement singer and three piece harmony. Unfortunately they didn’t get as a good a reaction as Harri from the judges, as Sharon described them as “choir” and Simon told them that they lost something good when they lost Harri. The deciding vote was left down to Sharon who, despite the girls pleading with her and being reduced to tears told them “it’s not fair to put you through, the standard this year is so high”

Harri was later asked how she felt and said that she had “mixed emotions” and that she was happy to get through but felt sorry for the girls.

Eskimo blonde said that pressure by people who had followed them since last year’s X Factor had made them decide to re-apply in 2006 and explained that it was hard meeting Harri again. They said that it was a total shock with Harri turning up as a solo artist because they thought she was abroad, however, they intend to make the most of their X Factor experience and will be happy as long as they can keep singing.