The X Factor 2015: How does the Six Chair Challenge work?

The intense round of musical chairs makes a dreaded return

Take a seat: the most nerve-wracking round of X Factor is about to begin

Thames/Syco production for ITV

4 October 2015

From the auditions to the live shows, it’s not easy for X Factor contestants to make it to the end stages of the competition.

After two rounds of boot camp, which saw tough choices made and a few dreams shattered, the worst is yet to come: the return of the Six Chair Challenge.

The challenge takes place in front of a live audience, and sees the contestants who made it through boot camp have to claw their way to Judges’ Houses. In each category, there are only six spaces available – and nobody is safe.

Each contestant is required to sing in front of the judges and the live audience, and can choose to do so with either live accompaniment or a capella. The judges are able to offer critiques, but it is the role of the judge overseeing that category to decide if the act deserves one of the six sought-after chairs.

Once the six chairs are filled, that’s where the fun really begins – any top singers can still be offered a place at Judges’ Houses, but the deciding judge has to swap out one of the singers who has already been assigned a seat.

X Factor Judges 2015

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All of which would be tense enough, if it wasn’t for an arena full of punters shouting “Swap! Swap! Swap!”, and the eyes of Simon Cowell bearing down on you.

This year the Six Chair Challenge will be split across three episodes – first up it’s the turn of Rita Ora to decide the fate of the girls, whittling the category down from 16 contestants to just six. Good luck Rita – you’re going to need it.

ITV, 7pm

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