Twist set to surprise X Factor judges

Contestants who are eliminated by the judges from this year’s 3 Seat Challenge in The X Factor will form part of a fourth surprise group with an unnamed ‘Underdog Coach.’

Seven’s X Factor: Next Generation is twisting the gameplay this year, dumping the Home Visits section of the competition.

Instead it will consist of Auditions, Boot Camp, 3 Seat Challenge (introduced last year) and Live Shows.

Singers chosen by Adam Lambert, Iggy Azalea and Guy Sebastian will fall simply into Under 22s, Over 22s and Groups. But the three judges won’t know the Underdog Judge will mentor the singers they eliminated.

Host Jason Dundas will front two Live shows a week in the final stages, taking over from Luke Jacobz.

Once again the ultimate winner lands a contract with Sony Music.

Auditions
At the beginning of the competition, all judges work together. After an act auditions on stage in front of a live audience, The X Factor judges vote on whether they have what it takes to progress further in the competition. Performers need a majority vote in order to move to the next round.

Boot Camp
At Boot Camp, the judges put the contestants through their paces testing them on vocal and performance ability. Judges will listen to each contestant sing acapella and give them an immediate verdict. Adding immediacy and an extra level of reality to this cull heightens the connection between judge and performer making their final decision so much harder.

3 Seat Challenge
This brutal aspect of the competition returns and is the funal mountain for contestants to climb before making it to the live shows. With each category down to a dozen acts but only three seats to fill, the pressure couldn’t be greater. Hopefuls will literally have to outsing each other in order to secure their place in the competition.

Live Shows
Taking place twice a week, the live performance shows are where contestants begin to evolve as true artists. Working with their judges in addition to the industry’s best stylists, choreographers and musical directors their artistry begins to evolve while the Australian public votes for their favourite to stay in the competition.

Guy Sebastian: “I love this panel and in my opinion, I think it’s probably the most powerful panel as far as knowing what we’re looking for and being quite cohesive with that. Myself, Iggy and Adam, we’re all very different characters but I think at the core of what we’re looking for is relevance. We’re all liking and responding to the same things. I think that’s important. It’s ok to disagree about certain things as long as the core of what we’re looking for is cohesive.”

Iggy Azalea: “I haven’t really asked (Guy and Adam) what they’re looking for. I think maybe they might be looking more for someone who’s vocally talented because they have their own big voices. They definitely seem more interested in singing ability than I am. But I’m also a rapper, I don’t really sing very much so I guess I don’t sit there and think about like pitchiness or any of those little nuances they really seem to get stuck on.”

Adam Lambert: “The part that I’m most looking forward to is trying to just assist somebody on their path to get where they want to go. I think sometimes it’s that one piece of advice, that one adjustment you can make to a performance that makes it click and makes it come together and I’m really excited to be able to offer anything to my team, whoever that ends up being. I’m looking forward to helping. Being in the business, everything becomes about you, your brand, your song and your performance, but this is a nice change to turn the tables and put my energy and time into others. I like that; I like what I can possibly learn from that as well. I think I’m going to see things that I’ve maybe forgotten along the way so it’ll be a good little reminder.”

Jason Dundas: “I think Guy is a technical master and I think he really knows what he’s after. He’s very articulate and very respectful to everyone who comes onto the stage. Iggy’s very empathetic and I think willing to give people a shot because she’s able to relate to contestants whose music may not necessarily fit the mainstream mould. And I think Adam having come up through the ranks of this type of show knows pretty well what’s going to work and what’s not and he says it how it is. That type of honesty is pretty refreshing.”

The X Factor returns Monday October 3rd on Seven.