The X Factor 2015: Che Chesterman blows judges away while Max Stone gets mixed reaction on first live show

Impressive Cher Chesterman performs on first live X Factor show
Syco/Thames/Corbis/Dymond
Tom Nicholson31 October 2015

Anton Stephans, Lauren Murray and Che Chesterman emerged as early frontrunners in the first live shows of this year’s X Factor on Saturday night.

Nick Grimshaw called Anton’s performance of Luther Vandross’ ‘Dance With My Father’ “incredible”, while mentor Simon Cowell declared that “no-one gives what you give on a song”.

Anton, visibly moved, said immediately afterwards: “I want to just kiss you all, I’m having the time of my life”.

Cheryl gave Lauren’s version of ‘I’m Every Woman’ her seal of approval, saying that hers was “the most confident first live performance I’ve ever seen”.

Mixed: Max Stone divided the judges with his performance
Syco/Thames/Corbis/Dymond

Che got a rousing reception too, with the former Girls Aloud chanteuse describing his vocal performance as “the best we’ve had”.

However, Cowell’s comparison of his surprise at the excellence of Che’s mash-up of Amy Winehouse’s ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’ and Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ to his dogs Squiddly and Diddly holding a conversation with him, was met with general bemusement.

Similarly lauded were former backing dancers Alien Uncovered, who sang Jessie J’s ‘Do It Like A Dude’ and impressed Cowell enough to declare their performance “outstanding”.

X Factor 2015: Grimmy's boys

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Reaction to Max Stone’s reggae-inflected revision of ‘Someone Like You’ was more mixed.

Cheryl thought that “it took away from the sentiment of the song”.

Peter Robinson, editor of music website Popjustice, was less reserved, taking to Twitter immediately afterwards to ask: “IS THIS MAX CHARACTER THE WORST X FACTOR CONTESTANT OF ALL TIME OR WHAT”.

However, Cowell called it “a really clever version” of the Adele hit, and Grimshaw described the move as “ballsy”.

The panel were split again over Keira Weathers’ laser-assisted performance of the Katy B single ‘Crying For No Reason’.

While Rita praised her “great voice”, Cowell let rip, telling her that: “I’m going to need you to do something better than that. You can’t compete with some of the bigger vocalists in this competition. You don’t have the character.”

Going for the jugular, he then told her: “You’re going to get slaughtered by some of these singers tonight.”

The X Factor continues with the results show on Sunday evening.

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