The wildcard is back! X Factor judges will give failed acts a second chance... but public will decide who goes to live shows

X Factor bosses have added some excitement for the upcoming live stages of the show.
They are believed to be introducing a wildcard entry, which will see the four judges choosing a candidate they previously axed who they believe deserves a second chance.
Viewers will reportedly see Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger each choose three acts and a wildcard each after the judges' houses stage on Sunday night.

Wildcard twist: Each judge will give one failed act a second chance

Viewers will then vote on which act deserves to join the 12 finalists on the first live edition of the series, which will air on ITV1 on October 6.

 

A spokesperson for the show refused to confirm the wildcard twist.
However a source said: 'We like to add new twists to the show every year and this time the public get to choose an act to be added to the competition.

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'With the standard so high this year, the judges had a tough time choosing their three, so this gives another amazing act the chance to perform on The X Factor stage.
'The four acts will be unveiled on Sunday night's X Factor on ITV1 - and phone lines will be open for the public to vote for their favourite from the end of the show until midday on Saturday. The act with the most votes performs on Saturday night.'
The wildcard twist was also used on the 2010 show.
Expect plenty of drama for the judges' house stage of the competition.

Daunting: Nicole Scherzinger will be aided by Ne-Yo in the judges' house section  

Belting it out: James Arthur gives it his all, as does James Maloney during the nerve wracking X Factor segment

Who's getting the chop-per? Cheryl Cole and Gary Barlow size up the singers

Sharon Osbourne will make her return to the show, joining Louis Walsh in Las Vegas to narrow down his seven groups to four including the wildcard.
Tulisa has enlisted Tinie Tempah to help her whittle down the girls category in St Lucia, while Nicole Scherzinger and Ne-Yo are looking over the boys section in Dubai.
The over 28s catergory will be overseen by Gary Barlow, who has called in former judge Cheryl Cole to help him with the selection in the house in Northamptonshire.

The wildcard twist was also used in the 2010 show

The final groups who will battle it out in Las Vegas are Mitsotu, Duke, MK1, Poisonous Twin, GMD3, Times Red and Union J - while Tulisa's category includes show-stopping 16-year-old Ella Henderson who wowed the judges with her first audition.
Essex boy Rylan Clarke divided divided opinion with his performance of the Pussycat Dolls hit Don't Cha at boot camp but was taken through to judges' houses round.

Barlow's category features returning contestant Carolynne Poole who failed to make it past Louis Walsh at last year's judges' houses.