[Locke.]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...lity-show.html

Some of the highlights:

2.30pm: Commotion as bodyguards with Secret Service-style earpieces herald a grand arrival. Yes, Kelly is in the building. Her entourage of six sweeps down the faded blue carpet in the shabby corridor and straight into her dressing room. There’s a hairdresser, make-up artist, PR adviser, personal assistant and two stylists — all of whom, I’m assured, are completely necessary.

3.30pm: Gary Barlow is next to arrive, bringing with him a PA, make-up artist, stylist and his own menacing security guard who follows him wherever he goes; he even stands outside his dressing room to limit access to show staff.

In a second late change, it has been decided he will now open the show instead of Janet, which has made him doubly unhappy. ‘Nobody wants to be on at the start because of the curse of the first,’ mutters a researcher, referring to the fact that the act voted off is often the one that has started the show when many viewers are still watching Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC.

8.15pm: Despite being just yards away from each other for the past few hours, the judges have not exchanged a word. When a producer yells ‘30 seconds till on air’, they gather in the corridor awaiting the march into the studio. Gary and Louis gingerly embrace, but Tulisa and Kelly do not speak. The tension is palpable.

In order to keep her distance, Kelly dances down the hallway arm-in-arm with her hairstylist, who clutches a bottle of nuclear-strength hairspray at all times. They stand in icy silence behind the stage doors awaiting Dermot’s introduction.

8.35pm: First act Craig storms off the stage, unhappy with his performance of Licence to Kill, which was not well received by Tulisa and Louis.

He is immediately confronted by make-up boss Natalya, who is furious she wasn’t able to give him a touch-up of foundation beforehand, which resulted in him looking sweaty in front of 12 million viewers. ‘Don’t you ever do that again,’ she screams at him. (He won’t get the chance, as he will be voted off the show the next night.) With a face like thunder, Craig heads for the contestants’ green room. But he can’t get in, because it’s been locked by Misha B who is warbling Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing before she goes on stage.

Two assistants, a make-up artist and a member of Little Mix yell at Misha, who has been accused of bullying the girl band by their judge Tulisa, to open the door. Their clothes and phones are all in the room. Eventually, Marcus, who has been next door helping with Little Mix’s make-up, bangs on the door and screams: ‘Misha, I need to get make-up from in there.’ She relents and unlocks the door. It’s obvious the contestants get on no better than their warring mentors.

8.40pm: In the dressing rooms, each entourage awaits the ad breaks, when all four judges retreat to their private space rather than spend the few minutes sitting at the judging table. Heaven forbid they have to utter a word to each other off camera.

The minute the cameras stop rolling, the judges leave their desk and head back to their dressing rooms, still without speaking. Off camera, I haven’t seen Kelly utter a word to Tulisa or Louis all night. Their feud, which many have speculated was staged for the cameras, appears very genuine.

10.15pm: I’m escorted past security staff back into the judges’ corridor. Gary and Kelly briefly speak to their contestants before their chauffeured cars speed them back to their superstar worlds.

Tulisa invites me to join her for a drink. ‘My dressing room is the most fun,’ she says. ‘You can smoke, drink and have a laugh in here!’ Louis chats to Tulisa’s mother. The most unlikely pair of judges have formed X Factor’s only genuine friendship this year.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...#ixzz1eibGq6Qr

[Niamh.]

That was an interesting read. Louis and Tulisa They need to get rid of Kelly and Gary next year

[Black Dagger]

Dan Wooten (Wooton, whatever)

Wrote the article, say no more.

[Novo]

Craig heads for the contestants’ green room. But he can’t get in, because it’s been locked by Misha B who is warbling Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing before she goes on stage.

[MusicXian]

Clearly shows Misha is a horrible *******

As for the judges. Doesnt surprise me one bit. I hope Kelly and Gary leave next year. Keep Tulisa and Louis. They have been the most genuine and have treated their acts as equals through-out despite having the 2 hardest categories by far.

[Adamw92]

Sorry, I'm a bit too lazy to read all that, can someone sum it up?

[MeMyselfAndI]

LMAO Misha blocks the door

[Jordan.]

The make up artist screaming at Craig for being sweaty

[Visage]

Interesting read. I'd love to see an 'all backstage' documentary on the X Factor.

[Doogle]

Brilliant read.

[Jords]

Tulisa and Louis

[Callum]

I know I'm late on this but it was a very interesting read. Kelly Rowland and Gary sound like complete arseholes, both need to be taken down a peg or two and I'm hoping that neither will be back next year.