In addition to the live auditions, video auditions are now being accepted as a way for acts to get noticed in the first stage of auditions.

Brand new for this year, you can upload a video of yourself or your group performing. It’s your chance to stand out from the crowd and show what you can do.

Video auditions are open to both those who have and haven’t yet applied for this year’s auditions.

Visit the X Factor audition site for more details.

Joe McElderry’s dream of Xmas number one could be in jeopardy thanks to an Internet campaign to stop the X Factor taking the Xmas number one slot for another year.

An Internet campaign is being held to get Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name, with the Facebook group having over 700 000 members.

According to the group’s organisers, they are organising the mass-purchase of the old Rage Against the Machine track as “a protest to the X Factor monotony”.

If you’ve loved watching Joe throughout this series of the X Factor, we urge you to support him by buying the MP3 download or the CD single.

Here’s what the contestants will be singing with their celebrity singing partners this weekend. These are still very much provisional, as it seems unlikely George Michael will be able to sing with Joe McElderry as planned.

Olly Murs + Robbie Williams – Angels
Stacey Solomon + Michael Bublé – What A Wonderful World
Joe McElderry + George Michael – Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me

There are strong rumours that George Michael has pulled out of this weekend’s X Factor.

He was set to perform with bookie’s favourite Joe McElderry, but sources close to George have revealed he is unlikely to be able to perform, citing ‘personal issues’.

Westlife are understood to be standing by in the event George Michael is unable to attend.