X Factor 'Musical Chairs' Bootcamp Gets Emotional As Top 24 Revealed

X Factor's new 'musical chairs' bootcamp format left many hopefuls crushed as they were replaced at the last minute and narrowly missed out on making the reality show's top 24

X Factor's new 'musical chairs' bootcamp format left many hopefuls crushed as they were replaced at the last minute and narrowly missed out on making the reality show's top 24.

Emotions were running high on Saturday and Sunday evening's X Factor Bootcamp episodes, which left some one step closer to their dreams of singing stardom - while others just missed out on clinching a spot in each judge's final six.

The new 'musical chairs' format left contestants particularly emotional as several thought they had made it to the next round and secured a place in a judge's house - only to be dismissed at the last minute by another, better performer.

Viewers were left outraged, calling the new format 'cruel and horrible' and 'exploitative,' comparing the show to the battle-to-the-death Hunger Games, with fan Kenny Doughty tweeting:

'X Factor is turning into Hunger Games. It's like pulling wings off flies. Cruel Process. Poor kids.'

Saturday night's X Factor saw the judges whittle down 100 contestants to just 24, who will move through into the Judge's Houses portion of the competition.

Judge Nicole Scherzinger choose her six girls - Abi Alton, Tamera Foster, Melanie McCabe, Relly Clarke, Hannah Barrett and Jade Richards in a tear-streaked episode on Saturday night.

Sunday evening revealed Gary Barlow's six groups (Brick City, Rough Copy, Kingsland Road, Xyra, Code 4 and a new unnamed girl band), Sharon Osbourne's six over-25s (Lorna Simpson, Shelley Smith, Zoe Devlin, Sam Bailey Joseph Whelan and Andrea Magee) and Louis Walsh's six boys (Sam Callahan, Paul Akister, Nicholas McDonald, Ryan Mathie, Luke Friend and Giles Potter).

X Factor hopeful Alejandro Fernandez-Holt, one of the boys who missed out on a spot in Louis' group - after thinking he was safe - revealed the whole experience has dampened his singing dreams - and he won't be back next year.

'It was really emotionally and physically draining... I've never gone through anything so stressful and intense as Bootcamp, because obviously it's something I really, really wanted. Working your absolute hardest and having it taken away is tough.'

The Judge's Houses episodes will air next Saturday and Sunday, with some added star power: Mary J. Blige will be helping the girls, Olly Murs is joining Gary and the groups, Robbie Williams will be on-hand for the over-25s and Louis has Sinitta, Nicole Appleton and Shane Filan coaching his boys.

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