The X Factor is Back! Here’s What Happened on the First Episode

The X Factor is back in all its reality TV glory!   At the outset, new presenters Olly Murs and Caroline Flack flagged it as “The year of change”, introducing new judges Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw to viewers. Simon was back at the helm, with Cheryl the only other familiar face hanging around. Louis still got to make an appearance, albeit during the ad breaks via THAT Cadbury’s ad. The very first audition of the new series was Susan Price. Simon asked about her pets, for some reason, and we learned she’s the proud human of Peter the cockatoo. Sixty-year-old Susan from Blackpool, a grandmother of two, talked about her fondness for bingo before launching into a rendition of 2 Unlimited’s No Limit. It was bonkers and it was glorious. Simon got in a dig for The Voice and Nick compared her to Irish star Mary Byrne.

We missed you #XFactor. We missed you. pic.twitter.com/CvL2UetXLz

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) August 29, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TURGo89TKH0 Reach for that sky Susan. Reach. Next up was Lauren from north-west London. She's a receptionist in a dentist's office and she's 25. She called in sick to work and really wanted to sing Whitney... until Simon steered her clear. After a bit of a false start, she KILLED it with Somebody Else's Guy. She made Cheryl excited. She wants to mentor her... but WE get to pick the categories this year, soz bbz Cheryl. 

We were worried about Lauren for a second there. But WOAH. pic.twitter.com/WuGEz9IhTj — Her.ie (@Herdotie) August 29, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_3Ug9WNE1s After the first (of many) breaks we were introduced to our first group - Man and Woman, a boyfriend and girlfriend act. They sang Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone". We wished they were alone. When they got a resounding now, Woman broke off on her own.

*All together now... YOUUUUU are not alone!* pic.twitter.com/yvrsZDQ4MH

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) August 29, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kj9sTi7NKc Jennifer was next. She sings in the church and she's giving nothing away about her age, except the fact that she's "over 35, honey". She likes big songs and ballads. She's all about the divas and X Factor is her chance to "come out of retirement". She was swayed away from Celine Dion and thank God - a take on Mary J.'s Shackles saw the first standing ovation from the judges. Nice.

Sing it guuuuurl! #XFactor pic.twitter.com/PXnIKQRHH4 — Her.ie (@Herdotie) August 29, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO7eaEPuSVg We used the next ad break to reflect on how much we miss Louis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHhunPO3FQw&spfreload=9 Tom was next up. He works front of house at a gym and wants to be the male version of Cheryl. He killed it with that routine though.

Is this the male Cheryl? We ❤️ Tom. pic.twitter.com/miHHqZeJSf

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) August 29, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gHCkgrKRYk He was followed by Mason Noise, who got seriously saucy with judge Rita Ora.

Mason Noise just got saucy with Rita! This is a family show! ? pic.twitter.com/bApOxBO083 — Her.ie (@Herdotie) August 29, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9BMLsA9Y1M THEN. ANOTHER TOM. THE VOICE.

Cheryl's face! This will be the audition everyone is talking about tomorrow... pic.twitter.com/D42zwLwu79

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) August 29, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z8x20MHQ8c Another band up next, The Fourth Power from The Philippines. They flew all the way to the UK just to audition! It was worth the trip, they were unreal. Especially the rap. Amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7YRRaOgpUk Dani went through next with a rendition of I Heard It Through the Grapevine and very little screen time. Salesman John, who was once in a band called The Smalltown Blaggers with Olly Murs of all people, was up next. He was very, very nervous, and his first take on Budapest did not go to plan. He switched to One Republic's Counting Stars and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But it was not to be - the judges were not impressed. Eighteen-year-old Kelly from Mullingar was next, but nerves got the better of her too.

First Irish act is Kelly, but nerves are a killer. ? pic.twitter.com/eSGnAV9epk — Her.ie (@Herdotie) August 29, 2015

Louisa, 17, from Essex needed to be reminded to breathe. She sang Michael Jackson's Who's Loving You and left us wondering what she could possibly have been nervous about... And that was it! We're back for another year, Christmas is clearly just around the corner and this is what our weekends will look like until December. See you tomorrow!