X Factor 2010: Cheryl Cole gets serenaded by a lifeguard as guest judge Katy Perry wows the crowd with her antics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hoDWyWsxFcendofvid

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By Sarah Bull

Serenading: Cheryl Cole was serenaded by 23-year-old lifeguard Stephen Concannon during his audition

It was eye candy aplenty in The X Factor tonight, when Cheryl Cole was serenaded by a lifeguard and guest judge Katy Perry ordered him to take his shirt off.

As soon as Stephen Concannon, 23, took to the stage, he had the attention of the audience and the judging panel as he told them he was a lifeguard, to which Katy replied: 'Honey, I'm drowning! Save me please!'

And, after Stephen serenaded Cheryl during his audition, leaving the stage to sing directly to her and kiss her on the hand, Katy decided she wanted a piece of the action - telling him she would only put him through to the next round if he took his shirt off.

Eye candy: Stephen's performance went down well with all the judges... except Simon

He promptly obliged, leaving Cheryl, Katy and the female members of the audience swooning with his six pack and muscly physique.

And Stephen wasn't the only act who caught Cheryl's attention.

Eye candy also came in the form of boyband The Reason who chose to perform their own unique version of Cheryl's hit single Fight For This Love.

Off, off, off! Katy told Stephen she would only put him through to the next round if he took his top off

Ok then! Stephen duly obliged, delighting the audience with his rippling muscles and six pack

With original harmonies and no cheesy choreography, the performance astounded the judges, with Simon Cowell saying they were the best group he had seen this year.

But he did say that he hoped Louis Walsh wouldn't be mentoring the groups, adding: 'If Louis was mentoring you it would be suits, bowties and Could It Be Magic?'

And while Stephen and The Reason went down well with the crowd, this evening's X Factor didn't get off to a good start in Dublin, with guest judge Katy left wondering why she had travelled across the pond to join Cheryl, Simon and Louis on the panel.

Boy band: The Reason were also well received by the audience as they performed their own version of Cheryl's hit single Fight For This Love

Original: Simon said the band were the best group he had seen so far this year

Before the first auditionee took to the stage, Katy said: 'I can't wait to spot a star, some kind of diamond in the rough.'

First up was boyband Temple Fire, who compared themselves to Take That before performing their own unique version of Wham's Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.

Before taking to the stage, Temple Fire said: 'We've known each other for 10 years.

We rehearse for around five hours a day, sometimes six, to make sure everything is perfect.

Not so good: But Irish boyband Temple Fire didn't go down too well with the judges, with Simon asking if their performance was a joke

Terrible: The group's performance of Wham's Wake Me Up Before You Go Go was described as 'hideous'

'We are going to take the stage and own the stage. Most boybands can just stand here and sing, but we can sing and dance and everything.'

The five piece group, who wore matching T-shirts bearing their band name, even left Cheryl speechless with their out-of-tune performance, complete with cringe-making dance moves.

Following their audition, Simon said: 'That was not serious was it? Oh, give me a break.'

He then added to Irish judge Louis: 'You know what Louis, I'm holding you responsible for this.'

Guest judge: Katy Perry's inclusion on the panel went down incredibly well with her fellow judges

Not impressed: At the beginning of the Dublin auditions, Cheryl and Simon looked unimpressed by the 'talent'

Needless to say, the group got four nos from the judges.

After the first few auditions, Katy, who wore a pretty blue and silver dress: 'It's going to get better, right? I came all the way here for this!'

But it didn't get better straight away, with 32-year-old student Michael McCarthy, 47-year-old pub singer Noel O'Keefe and a man dressed as a tiger all getting four nos from the judges.

While Cheryl, Katy and Louis started to get a bit happier when they saw the standard of talent increase, Simon appeared to be refusing to give anyone a yes, telling Louis: 'I haven't liked anyone.'

As girl group Sugar Bullet and singer Sadbh O'Donnell failed to win over Simon, it wasn't until unemployed hairdresser Rebecca Creighton sang Pixie Lott's Cry Me Out that the music mogul cheered up.

After Simon said yes, Louis laughed: 'Rebecca, thank you for coming in, you may have saved the day for me.'

Four nos: Michael McCarthy (left) and pub singer Noel O'Keefe didn't get through to the next round

It was the arrival of Tesco till worker Mary Byrne, however, that really got the judges' attention.

Before going on, Mary said: 'I always sing at the till, I get told to shut up by the staff. I want to be a legend by Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones.

'I would love to be a singer, it's only been in the last few years I have got the courage back to do it.'

While appearances can be deceiving, Mary left the judges and audience astounded as she sang Tom Jones' I Who Have Nothing, hitting every note and receiving a standing ovation from the delighted crowd.

Till worker: Mary Byrne has already been nicknamed the 'new SuBo' and left the judges astounded by her performance of Tom Jones's I Who Have Nothing

Amazing: Cheryl said her performance was 'full to the brim of power, emotion and passion'

Following her perfomance, Cheryl said: 'That was my favourite audition of Dublin so far. It was full to the brim of power and emotion and passion.'

Simon added: 'I think it's quite important that what we say does affect you, and I think you have the best voice out of everyone who has auditioned today. Seriously seriously good. And more than that, I really like you.'

After getting four yeses, an emotional Mary said: 'It has made me a better person today.'

Ladies' night: Girl group Sugar Bullet divided the judges, with Simon saying they were as boring as watching paint dry

Four yeses: Unemployed hairdresser Rebecca was the first act to get a yes from Simon, and four yeses overall

Next up was 27-year-old painter-decorator Matt from Essex, who said he wanted to get through to the next stage because: 'This opportunity would mean the end of Magnolia all over my face and hands!'

Singing Amy Winehouse's You Know That I'm No Good, Matt received a rapturous applause from the audience, with Louis saying he was 'surprised' by his voice but adding that he looked awkward on stage.

Simon gave Matt an 'almighty yes', while Louis and Cheryl also put him through to the next round.

The auditions then moved to London, where Michael Jackson impersonator Michael Lewis, 26, was the first act to take to the stage.

My idol: Michael Lewis took to the stage dressed as his idol Michael Jackson and performed Rock Wit U

Jeered: But his performance wasn't received well by the audience, who booed and jeered him throughout

Wearing a military jacket similar to the one previously sported by Jackson, Michael said he had been inspired to try out for the show by his idol.

He said: 'Michael Jackson is my inspiration. To me he is more than just a musical artist - he is a God, he is a way of life.

'There has been a few times when I have felt Michael Jackson's spirit and I feel like he is telling me to share my love of music.'

Glee-inspired: Group Seven wowed the crowd with their Lady Gaga medley and got through to bootcamp

Sexy ladies: Girlband Husstle delighted the judges, especially Simon, who praised their choreography

But his rendition of Rock Wit U didn't go down too well with the audience, who started booing him when he told them: 'There's a lot of negativity in the room'.

However, his determination to listen to the judges and ignore the audience didn't help him, and he was given four nos.

Next up was boyband The Reason, who delighted Cheryl by performing their own unique version of her hit single Fight For This Love.

Second time lucky: Annastasia Baker was given the chance to perform an Adele song after failing to impress with her rendition of Tina Turner's Proud Mary

Upset: Annastasia had previously got through to the judges' houses stage of the show in 2008

London saw a whole host of bands who thought they had the X Factor, including Glee-inspired group Seven, sexy girlband Husstle and boy band Princes & Rogues, who all got through to bootcamp.

Not a good look: Simon made Annastasia take off her shoes for her second song

A familiar face was on the stage next in the form of Annastasia Baker, 21, who made it through to the judges' houses stage in 2008 but wasn't taken through by Cheryl.

While her shoes distracted Simon as soon as she came on for her audition, her performance of Tina Turner's Proud Mary was even less popular with the music mogul, who told her: 'This is like one of those terrible Tina Tuner impersonation acts.

I've seen trannies do better versions than that.'

But Simon decided to give Annastasia a second chance, after making her take her white shoes off, and she sang Adele's Make You Feel My Love.

The emotional track went down a lot better with the judges, with Cheryl saying: 'I think you did a fantastic audition', and Louis also praising her.

And despite Simon telling her she sang like a cabaret singer, he eventually said yes - giving her three yeses and putting her through to the next stage.