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'X Factor' first live finals turn into dramatic showdown

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X Factor's first round of live finals didn't fail to disappoint as the show's adrenaline-inducing format left viewers glued to the screen on Saturday and Sunday.

In a series of revelations, the programme saw bands changing names, wild card contestants, celebrity performances and even a judge storming off the stage.

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Saturday's show kicked off with band GMD3 revealing their new name, which had been under legal dispute in the US.

Leaving the decision to an online vote, the public opted for the likeable lads to be known as District 3.

In a second pre-show vote, shy scouser Chris Maloney won the thirteenth place in the competition after winning the "wild card" vote, which allowed the public to chose one act out of four to go through to the finals.

gary

Overcome with emotion, Chris was overjoyed to win a place in the final, and belted out a stunning rendition of Hero by Mariah Carey.

Highly impressed by the performance, Tulisa was pleased to see the singer come out of his shell.

She said: "I'm so glad to see you up there finding your confidence. I think you have an amazing voice. It's undeniable."

After a series of sensational performances by the contestants, the mood quickly changed on Sunday's show.

After Gary Barlow described Rylan's performance on Saturday as "an embarrassment", the judge was astounded to find his own act, country music star Carolynne Poole, pitted against the flamboyant contestant.

Gary voted to save his own act, and ribbed Rylan for his 'new' microphone technique.

He said: "I'm glad you learned the trick that when you pull the mic away - we don't hear what you're singing."

Leona

Nicole also saved her own act, whereas Tulisa opted to save Carolynne, leaving Louis Walsh with the final decision on the matter.

After spending a lot of time deliberating on which act to save, Louis said: "It's a really difficult one. I'm going to go with Carolynne I want to keep Carolynne."

When Dermot pressed for his decision, however, the judge opted to send the acts to deadlock, leaving the acts' fate in the hands of the general public.

Once it was revealed that Carolynne had secured the lowest amount of votes, Gary stormed off stage, saying the decision as "an absolute joke".

Despite the dramatics of the evening, the audience were blown away by X Factor champion Leona Lewis' performance.

The three-time Grammy winner gave her debut performance of her new single Trouble live on the show, and looked every inch a superstar in a purple Ariella couture gown, complemented by a sleek high ponytail and smoky eye make-up.