X Factor 2012: Contestants Cut In Cruel Twist

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X Factor got all-serious on us as we hit the Boot Camp stage. No more laughing at the awful singers or interesting dance moves – it was all about the competition.

And within five minutes of starting, Gary announced that in an interesting twist, 1/3 of the remaining contestants would be leaving – before they even had a chance to hum a tune. Brutal!

Over 200 contestants were seen arriving at a big welcome party, featuring X Factor alumni JLS, who were on hand to offer advice. The Brit-award-winning boy-band told the contestants to grab the opportunity “with both hands.”

Meanwhile the four judges, including Nicole Scherzinger, who is now a permanent panel member, deliberated on who would stay and who would go. They then gathered the contestants on stage and told them that 2/3’s would be going onto the next stage of boot camp. Louis Walsh announced that the rest would be “going home right now.”

The judges then read out the names of those who were allowed to stay. This included many favourites from the auditions including “beer fear” Lucy Spraggan, Asda worker Jahmene Douglas, super-nervous Christopher Maloney and homeless guitar player, Robbie Hance.

X Factor just got ruthless and with Boot Camp set to continue we are willing to bet it won’t get any friendlier…

Who is your favourite X Factor contestant?

Check out what went on behind the scenes at boot camp!