The X Factor Live tour rolled into Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena on Sunday, the third date of the tour – with an early kick off at 3pm.
If rumours are correct; this might well be the very last time The X Factor Live tour hits the road, as it is understood that Simon Cowell is pulling the plug on the TV talent show in its current format, after 15 years on our screens.
It is thought there will be TWO series of The X Factor this year, different to the original format. One featuring celebrities and the other an all-star line-up of past contestants. There will also be Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions, to run in addition to the normal BGT show.
But until then, the X Factor finalists from the 2018 show are grabbing another 15 minutes of fame on this mammoth arenas tour, which started in Nottingham on 15th of February and takes in 16 dates, ending in Belfast on 6th March
Becca Dudley is the host for the gigs. Becca has worked with MTV and now hosts the Xtra Factor online. She is a 26-year-old London College of Fashion graduate.
Of the 16 finalists from the 2018 TV show, the tour features Scarlett Lee, Acacia & Aaliyah, Danny Tetley, Anthony Russell, Bella Penfold, Brendan Murray, Shan Ako and 2018 X Factor winner Dalton Harris from Jamaica.
One of the highlights of the show was when Shan joined Dalton for a stunning duet of the song “Beneath Your Beautiful” (Your = correct spelling!) just before the interval, to loud approval from the circa 10,000 strong audience (the venue holds 16,000) in Birmingham.
“Beneath Your Beautiful” was a hit for Labrinth and Emeli Sandé. Written by Labrinth, US artist Mike Posner and Emeli Sandé. It was the sixth single from Labrinth’s debut album, “Electronic Earth”.
The song reached # 1 on the UK Singles Chart, off the back of a performance on The X Factor. It was Labrinth’s first number one single as a solo artist. It also became his first top 40 hit on the US chart (# 34).
Fourth song of the second set came another collaboration, this time it was the turn of Brendan, Scarlett and Danny, with “Angels”.
Anthony and Bella teamed up for the song “Issues”, and after headliner Dalton delivered three tracks; including the winner’s single “The Power Of Love”, all of the artists returned to the stage together to belt out an Abba medley to close proceedings.
London X Factor fans get two shows on Saturday February 23rd at the SSE Arena Wembley, a matinee performance and an evening show.
All photos: Jason Sheldon
