New voting system introduced on X Factor live shows

Nicole Scherzinger is helped by Mary J Blige at X Factor judges' houses

X Factor contestants could end up singing for their survival.

A new voting system is being introduced which means that the act with the fewest votes after 10 minutes will be put into a sing-off with another act after a flash vote.

The twist starts at the beginning of the live shows on Saturday 12 October.

Voting for the remaining contestants will then reopen until Sunday's show when the second contestant to face the sing-off is revealed.

See more pictures from The X Factor judges' houses

The first live show will have an 80s theme and is due to last more than two hours.

The episode will clash with the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing for half-an-hour when the live stages of both contests go up against each other for the first time this year.

Louis Walsh is helped by Nicole Appleton, Shane Filan and Sinitta this year

A two-hour edition of the ballroom dance show is scheduled at 6.30pm a week on Saturday, while X Factor kicks off at 8pm that night.

Strictly Come Dancing topped last Saturday night's ratings with the show drawing an average of 1.4 million viewers more than the ITV singing contest.

This weekend viewers will learn which contestants will make it through from judges' houses to The X Factor live shows, while on Strictly Come Dancing the first couple will leave the show.

The groups category on The X Factor will be seen heading to New York to sing for Gary Barlow and Olly Murs.

The over-25s head out to meet Sharon Osbourne, accompanied by Robbie Williams, at her home in Los Angeles.

Code 4 are one of the groups through to judges' houses on The X Factor

The boys fly out to Saint-Tropez to perform for Louis Walsh, who is joined by former All Saints member Nicole Appleton, Westlife's Shane Filan and Sinitta.

Nicole Scherzinger's girls travel to Antigua, where they meet soul star Mary J Blige.

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