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Mad Men Series 5 Reviews Round-Up: What The Critics Said About Don Draper's Return
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Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker Bask In London Sunshine At Battleship Junket (PHOTOS)
Rihanna has left her love controversy (is she/isn't she dating Ashton Kutcher?) behind to hang out with her Battleship co-stars in London, ahead of the film's release in a couple of weeks.
Rihanna and co-star Brooklyn Decker (Mrs Andy Roddick to the uninitiated) took advantage of the unseasonal warmth to bask in the London sunshine - two blondes together...
Rihanna and co-star Brooklyn Decker (Mrs Andy Roddick to the uninitiated) took advantage of the unseasonal warmth to bask in the London sunshine - two blondes together...
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'Switch': Lacey Turner, Hannah Tointon To Star As Witches In ITV2 Drama
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James Bond 'Skyfall': Naomie Harris Learning To Shoot As Bond Girl Eve (VIDEO)
Bond girl Naomie Harris, who plays Eve in the forthcoming film Skyfall, has given fans a first glimpse of what to expect from her character.
The British actress stars alongside Daniel Craig, Dame Judi Dench and Javier Bardem in Skyfall, which is currently in production, and in the video above she gives an insight into Eve's personality.
She reveals: "Eve is a field agent, she's very capable, she sort of sees herself as Bond's equal. She's not but that's how she sees herself."
Harris, who has been training for two months with machine guns and handguns for the coveted-part, says of the Bond films: "Like most people in England I grew up with them, I think they're amazing films and I love them so I couldn't believe I was part of all of this."
SLIDESHOW: James Bond Skyfall press conference
The British actress stars alongside Daniel Craig, Dame Judi Dench and Javier Bardem in Skyfall, which is currently in production, and in the video above she gives an insight into Eve's personality.
She reveals: "Eve is a field agent, she's very capable, she sort of sees herself as Bond's equal. She's not but that's how she sees herself."
Harris, who has been training for two months with machine guns and handguns for the coveted-part, says of the Bond films: "Like most people in England I grew up with them, I think they're amazing films and I love them so I couldn't believe I was part of all of this."
SLIDESHOW: James Bond Skyfall press conference
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The Voice Review: West End Star Kerry Ellis Rejected - Who Did Pass The Blind Auditions? (PHOTOS)
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Dumb and Dumber 2: Peter Farrelly Confirms 'Proper' Sequel
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Whitney Houston 'Sparkle' Trailer: First Look At The Late Singer In Her Final Film (VIDEO)
A trailer for Sparkle, Whitney Houston's final film, has made its debut on US TV.
Viewers got a first glimpse of the late singer's last big screen effort when NBC's Today show premiered the trailer on Monday.
A remake of the 1976 original, Sparkle stars Houston - who drowned in a bath at a Beverly Hills hotel on the eve of the Grammys in February - as the mother of three girls who form a singing group. The film charts the group's struggle with fame and drug addiction.
Houston was poised for a big screen return two decades after her role in The Bodyguard shot the singer to international fame. She was also an executive producer on the project.
The late diva appears alongside Jordin Sparks, who plays a teenager struggling to become a star while overcoming issues that are tearing her family apart. Houston plays her single mother.
The brief trailer shows the daughters during a performance, with Houston telling them: "I always knew you had the gift."
In one of the final interviews before her tragic death, Houston, who also worked on the soundtrack for the film, denied it was a comeback film. She told ComingSoon.net: "I don't think of it as a comeback. I don't think of it as a pressure.
"I think of it as a gift God gave me to contribute to a cast of people who are working as hard if not harder than I. I have two jobs and executive of the soundtrack. I've done it before. In my life it was not that I want to be an entertainer, it's in my family bloodline.
"I can't help it. It is something that God said this is what you do. It's in me. To me it's not a comeback, it's innate, it's natural."
The movie is due to be released later this year.
Viewers got a first glimpse of the late singer's last big screen effort when NBC's Today show premiered the trailer on Monday.
A remake of the 1976 original, Sparkle stars Houston - who drowned in a bath at a Beverly Hills hotel on the eve of the Grammys in February - as the mother of three girls who form a singing group. The film charts the group's struggle with fame and drug addiction.
Houston was poised for a big screen return two decades after her role in The Bodyguard shot the singer to international fame. She was also an executive producer on the project.
The late diva appears alongside Jordin Sparks, who plays a teenager struggling to become a star while overcoming issues that are tearing her family apart. Houston plays her single mother.
The brief trailer shows the daughters during a performance, with Houston telling them: "I always knew you had the gift."
In one of the final interviews before her tragic death, Houston, who also worked on the soundtrack for the film, denied it was a comeback film. She told ComingSoon.net: "I don't think of it as a comeback. I don't think of it as a pressure.
"I think of it as a gift God gave me to contribute to a cast of people who are working as hard if not harder than I. I have two jobs and executive of the soundtrack. I've done it before. In my life it was not that I want to be an entertainer, it's in my family bloodline.
"I can't help it. It is something that God said this is what you do. It's in me. To me it's not a comeback, it's innate, it's natural."
The movie is due to be released later this year.
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Harry Potter Star Rupert Grint Admits Feeling 'Lost' After Saying Goodbye To Ron Weasley (VIDEO)
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Tonight's TV Pick: The Apprentice, Our Food, One Born Every Minute
Our Food - BBC2, 8pm
In this new series, food critic Giles Coren journeys around Britain to reveal how its history, landscape and climate have shaped what's grown and where. The show also features Lucy Worsley, James Wong, Alex Langlands and Alys Fowler on the culinary adventure.
One Born Every Minute - Channel 4, 9pm
It's the series finale of hit documentary One Born Every Minute tonight, and one well-respected midwife is hanging up her stethoscope for good.
In the bustling maternity ward at Leeds General Infirmary, Linda Abbott retires after 38 years' service and reminisces about her career, including delivering several generations of some families.
But before she bows out there's one more baby to be delivered. Abbott helps nervous 22-year-old Michelle give birth, after the soon-to-be single mum spends a difficult night alone on the ward.
There's also a joyful moment for a couple who've been trying to conceive naturally for years. Expect screams, tears and tantrums but all in the best possible way.
The Apprentice - BBC1, 9pm
The competition moves to the kitchen in this week's episode of The Apprentice when one of the teams of would-be entrepreneurs has to dump their stock of chutney when they overload it with "vicious" chillies.
Lord Sugar challenges the teams on the hit BBC One show to come up with a new condiment that will let them carve themselves "a niche in the marketplace".
In this new series, food critic Giles Coren journeys around Britain to reveal how its history, landscape and climate have shaped what's grown and where. The show also features Lucy Worsley, James Wong, Alex Langlands and Alys Fowler on the culinary adventure.
One Born Every Minute - Channel 4, 9pm
It's the series finale of hit documentary One Born Every Minute tonight, and one well-respected midwife is hanging up her stethoscope for good.
In the bustling maternity ward at Leeds General Infirmary, Linda Abbott retires after 38 years' service and reminisces about her career, including delivering several generations of some families.
But before she bows out there's one more baby to be delivered. Abbott helps nervous 22-year-old Michelle give birth, after the soon-to-be single mum spends a difficult night alone on the ward.
There's also a joyful moment for a couple who've been trying to conceive naturally for years. Expect screams, tears and tantrums but all in the best possible way.
The Apprentice - BBC1, 9pm
The competition moves to the kitchen in this week's episode of The Apprentice when one of the teams of would-be entrepreneurs has to dump their stock of chutney when they overload it with "vicious" chillies.
Lord Sugar challenges the teams on the hit BBC One show to come up with a new condiment that will let them carve themselves "a niche in the marketplace".
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Labrinth 'Electronic Earth' Interview: 'Simon Can't Tell Me Nothing'
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Harry Potter Studio Tour: Tom Felton, Warwick Davis, Evanna Lynch & Natalia Tena On Returning To Hogwarts
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter has opened its doors to Muggles this week, giving the public - for the first time in Harry Potter's 10 year film history - a chance to snoop around the actual set where the on-screen magic was made.
Attractions at the studio tour include the magnificent Great Hall, where many mind-boggling feasts occurred, along with Dumbledore's office, mystical Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic, Harry's former home 4 Privet Drive, Gryffindor common room and the Weasleys' kitchen.
READ: What's eating Rupert Grint?
On the tour, we caught up with stars of the film Tom Felton - who played Draco Malfoy, Warwick Davis - whose roles included goblin sGriphook and Hogwarts Professor Filius Flitwick, as well as the charming Evanna Lynch, best known as Luna Lovegood, and Natalia Tena who played Nymphadora Tonks, to find out how it feels to be back at Hogwarts and what they miss most about playing their characters.
We also spoke to Oscar-winning special effects supervisor John Richardson who worked on all of the Harry Potter films and was responsible for bringing Qudditch to life. Plus Nick Dudman, the special make-up effects boss who worked on the magical animatronic creatures, including Hagrid's bird-like creature Buckbeak. Find out their biggest Potter challenge in the video above.
Attractions at the studio tour include the magnificent Great Hall, where many mind-boggling feasts occurred, along with Dumbledore's office, mystical Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic, Harry's former home 4 Privet Drive, Gryffindor common room and the Weasleys' kitchen.
READ: What's eating Rupert Grint?
On the tour, we caught up with stars of the film Tom Felton - who played Draco Malfoy, Warwick Davis - whose roles included goblin sGriphook and Hogwarts Professor Filius Flitwick, as well as the charming Evanna Lynch, best known as Luna Lovegood, and Natalia Tena who played Nymphadora Tonks, to find out how it feels to be back at Hogwarts and what they miss most about playing their characters.
We also spoke to Oscar-winning special effects supervisor John Richardson who worked on all of the Harry Potter films and was responsible for bringing Qudditch to life. Plus Nick Dudman, the special make-up effects boss who worked on the magical animatronic creatures, including Hagrid's bird-like creature Buckbeak. Find out their biggest Potter challenge in the video above.
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The Voice Review: Amy Winehouse's Best Friend Tyler James Joins Will.i.am's Team
One of Amy Winehouse's best friends appeared on The Voice on Saturday night singing a soulful rendition of Otis Redding's (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay.
The 30-year-old singer-songwriter revealed how he and the Back To Black singer were "like two halves of the same person."
And added: "Unfortunately last summer, worst day of my life, Amy died and my whole life changed.
"Now she's here with me, I know that, but it's about me finding my own feet and the only way for me that I'm ever going to find that is through music, through singing. This competition is about me building up my confidence for myself.
"It is very important to me, very. There's a lot riding on this."
Will.i.am was the only coach to spin around for Tyler, making him his coach by default. Jessie joked: "I'm really glad you and Danny go to the same hairdressers," while Tom added: "I knew Ottis Redding so it's hard for me to judge you."
READ: 5 reasons to watch The Voice
Other impressive voices on tonight's show included 21-year-old Joelle Mosses, who was the first singer of the night. The former backing voice for Rihanna and Gabriella Cilmi, performed a powerful rendition of Adele's Rolling In The Deep. All four judges spun round and Jessie even ran on stage to hug Joelle as she broke down crying. After an epic battle the persuasive Will.i.am added Joelle to his team.
Liverpudlian Jay Norton, who moved to London to get noticed, sang Aloe Blacc's I Need A Dollar. Will.i.am boasted: "I hit my button like 4 seconds in," and Jay joined Will's gang.
Next up was Allyson Brown, 29, who won a Mobo in 1998 for Best Unsigned Act. She decided to return to the spotlight 14 years later for another chance at bagging a recording contract. Unfortunately her version of Jocelyn Brown's Somebody Else's Guy wasn't enough to make anyone turn around. But Jessie admitted: "I should have pressed my button."
Danny hit the nail on the head when he said of tonight's show: "Even the standard of the unpicked contestants is high."
Meanwhile, Leanne Mitchell - who is used to singing on seaside holiday camps - belted out Beyonce's If I Were A Boy to the coaches. Danny O'Donoghue and Tom turned around, but Tom was the man for Leanne.
And Top Of The Pops fans might have spotted a familiar face as Cassius Henry - a singer who has toured with R Kelly but took a step back from music after the death of his younger brother - stepped up to The Voice's stage for a second break and sang Neyo's Closer. In perhaps one of the longest contests yet Danny and Jessie both fought it out for Cassius. But it was Jessie who won the round.
Also on tonight's show was Cheerleader Hannah Berney who sang Lady Gaga's You and I and broke down in tears as she chose Danny as her coach, Cris Grixti, who didn't hit the right notes to get the coaches to turn around with his version of Cee Lo Green's Forget You, but got everyone laughing when he said he was conceived to What's New Pussycat? And Kate Read who sang True Colours for her mum. Will.i.am said: "My mum is my driving force too," which seemed to win Kate over as she joined his line-up.
Next week the coaches will battle it out to complete their teams.
Who was your favourite act of the night? Let us know below...
The 30-year-old singer-songwriter revealed how he and the Back To Black singer were "like two halves of the same person."
And added: "Unfortunately last summer, worst day of my life, Amy died and my whole life changed.
"Now she's here with me, I know that, but it's about me finding my own feet and the only way for me that I'm ever going to find that is through music, through singing. This competition is about me building up my confidence for myself.
"It is very important to me, very. There's a lot riding on this."
Will.i.am was the only coach to spin around for Tyler, making him his coach by default. Jessie joked: "I'm really glad you and Danny go to the same hairdressers," while Tom added: "I knew Ottis Redding so it's hard for me to judge you."
READ: 5 reasons to watch The Voice
Other impressive voices on tonight's show included 21-year-old Joelle Mosses, who was the first singer of the night. The former backing voice for Rihanna and Gabriella Cilmi, performed a powerful rendition of Adele's Rolling In The Deep. All four judges spun round and Jessie even ran on stage to hug Joelle as she broke down crying. After an epic battle the persuasive Will.i.am added Joelle to his team.
Liverpudlian Jay Norton, who moved to London to get noticed, sang Aloe Blacc's I Need A Dollar. Will.i.am boasted: "I hit my button like 4 seconds in," and Jay joined Will's gang.
Next up was Allyson Brown, 29, who won a Mobo in 1998 for Best Unsigned Act. She decided to return to the spotlight 14 years later for another chance at bagging a recording contract. Unfortunately her version of Jocelyn Brown's Somebody Else's Guy wasn't enough to make anyone turn around. But Jessie admitted: "I should have pressed my button."
Danny hit the nail on the head when he said of tonight's show: "Even the standard of the unpicked contestants is high."
Meanwhile, Leanne Mitchell - who is used to singing on seaside holiday camps - belted out Beyonce's If I Were A Boy to the coaches. Danny O'Donoghue and Tom turned around, but Tom was the man for Leanne.
And Top Of The Pops fans might have spotted a familiar face as Cassius Henry - a singer who has toured with R Kelly but took a step back from music after the death of his younger brother - stepped up to The Voice's stage for a second break and sang Neyo's Closer. In perhaps one of the longest contests yet Danny and Jessie both fought it out for Cassius. But it was Jessie who won the round.
Also on tonight's show was Cheerleader Hannah Berney who sang Lady Gaga's You and I and broke down in tears as she chose Danny as her coach, Cris Grixti, who didn't hit the right notes to get the coaches to turn around with his version of Cee Lo Green's Forget You, but got everyone laughing when he said he was conceived to What's New Pussycat? And Kate Read who sang True Colours for her mum. Will.i.am said: "My mum is my driving force too," which seemed to win Kate over as she joined his line-up.
Next week the coaches will battle it out to complete their teams.
Who was your favourite act of the night? Let us know below...
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'Smash' Star Jack Davenport: 'Glee's A Karaoke Show'....
"We're grateful to Glee, but we're nothing like Glee," says Jack Davenport, star of Steven Spielberg's musical TV show Smash.
The This Life actor plays a British director, Derek Wills, in the US series centering around the staging of a musical about Marilyn Monroe. And Davenport is keen to point out the differences between the hit all-singing all-dancing show Glee and his "adult" drama, Smash, before it airs in the UK this weekend.
"Until Glee came along, musicals and TV were not happy bedfellows, they never really worked. We are very grateful to Glee for creating a gap that we can sneak into, but beyond that there are huge differences.
"Glee's set in a high school, it's a karaoke show, they sing only covers, also people sing just because they're feeling so much that they've just 'got to sing' because they're teenagers," Davenport explains.
He reasons: "In our show people sing because it's a world where people sing for a living. So people only sing because they would do in real life. Plus, we're trying to build a real musical here, so each week there is original music."
In Smash, the Pirates of The Caribbean star Davenport's character is among those tasked with deciding who is best equipped to star as Marilyn in a new Broadway show: Katharine McPhee's Karen - a naive and morally-grounded actress looking for her first big break - or Megan Hilty's seasoned Ivy - who's willing to do almost anything to get the part.
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Jack Davenport with Katherine McPhee in Smash - but is she his favourite Marilyn?
Which 'Marilyn' did Davenport take to the most? Well, if he has a favourite, he's not saying...
"They're both, from a technical point of view, qualified to play this part. They both sing like angels. Obviously Megan looks more like Marilyn but if you stick a wig on Kat you'd be amazed, she could get away with it too.
"But the thing that's really fascinating is, there's something essential about them both. What one has, the other one doesn't have so you've got this real creative dilemma - do you go with the veteran or the new girl? One is a bigger risk than the other one."
Smash starts on Sky Atlantic HD from the 21 April. Here are the music-makers in action...
The This Life actor plays a British director, Derek Wills, in the US series centering around the staging of a musical about Marilyn Monroe. And Davenport is keen to point out the differences between the hit all-singing all-dancing show Glee and his "adult" drama, Smash, before it airs in the UK this weekend.
"Until Glee came along, musicals and TV were not happy bedfellows, they never really worked. We are very grateful to Glee for creating a gap that we can sneak into, but beyond that there are huge differences.
"Glee's set in a high school, it's a karaoke show, they sing only covers, also people sing just because they're feeling so much that they've just 'got to sing' because they're teenagers," Davenport explains.
He reasons: "In our show people sing because it's a world where people sing for a living. So people only sing because they would do in real life. Plus, we're trying to build a real musical here, so each week there is original music."
In Smash, the Pirates of The Caribbean star Davenport's character is among those tasked with deciding who is best equipped to star as Marilyn in a new Broadway show: Katharine McPhee's Karen - a naive and morally-grounded actress looking for her first big break - or Megan Hilty's seasoned Ivy - who's willing to do almost anything to get the part.
Jack Davenport with Katherine McPhee in Smash - but is she his favourite Marilyn?
Which 'Marilyn' did Davenport take to the most? Well, if he has a favourite, he's not saying...
"They're both, from a technical point of view, qualified to play this part. They both sing like angels. Obviously Megan looks more like Marilyn but if you stick a wig on Kat you'd be amazed, she could get away with it too.
"But the thing that's really fascinating is, there's something essential about them both. What one has, the other one doesn't have so you've got this real creative dilemma - do you go with the veteran or the new girl? One is a bigger risk than the other one."
Smash starts on Sky Atlantic HD from the 21 April. Here are the music-makers in action...
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'Smash' Star Jack Davenport On What Makes Derek Wills Tick
"It's quite liberating to play Derek, because I get to exercise my inner-sociopath for money," says Jack Davenport of his latest character Derek Wills - a director in a musical theatre show centred around the creation of a Marilyn Monroe musical for Broadway.
Smash, which is co-produced by Steven Spielberg, was recently commissioned for a second series in the US, but is only just hitting UK screens this month, and British actor Davenport can't wait for us to get to know his character - the Simon-Cowell-of-musicals, Derek.
However, he says, despite Derek's Machiavellian traits, viewers Stateside have warmed to him: "I think in some ways it's quite a release having a character that doesn't care what people think about him.
"Having said that he's not some sort of raging id who says the first thing that comes in to his head. In fact he's quite the opposite, everything he says is considered and in some ways it's considered to provoke a reaction and that's dramatically fascinating."
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Jack Davenport holds his students in thrall as Smash's musical guru Derek Wills
He continues: "It's kind of his job to manipulate people and push them and pull things out of them. So far I've met people who've been kind of into him, but whether they want to take him home to meet their mother is an entirely different question."
Derek pulls no punches and spouts some fantastic lines in the show, such as: "Marilyn herself would have to pop out of that envelope and do me right here." He's the type of character viewers love to hate, but what makes him tick?
"It's essentially a desire to create the best show he can, unfortunately in trying to achieve that he can be quite abrasive and Machiavellian-like, and you don't necessarily want to be in the way when he's doing that. But that's the type of guy he is," says Davenport, best known for his role in nineties TV series This Life.
MORE: 'Glee's A Karaoke Show,' Says Smash Star
For Davenport, playing Derek gives him a chance to break out from the norm. He explains: "He couldn't care less about what anyone thinks about him. I sadly do care what people think about me, I wish I cared less but I don't and it's quite liberating to play someone like that.
"It gives you a huge amount of room to play and you don't get to meet a lot of people like that in the real world."
Davenport is proud of the originality of the show - notwithstanding its comparisons to Glee (which he disputes) - and "the fact that no one in this show has a gun or is wearing a white coat or is pleading in front of a judge".
He says: "There's plenty of those shows and they're great, and some of them are my favourite shows, but I didn't want to have to do one of them if I had a choice and in this case I did."
Smash starts on Sky Atlantic HD from the 21 April. Here are the music-makers in action...
Smash, which is co-produced by Steven Spielberg, was recently commissioned for a second series in the US, but is only just hitting UK screens this month, and British actor Davenport can't wait for us to get to know his character - the Simon-Cowell-of-musicals, Derek.
However, he says, despite Derek's Machiavellian traits, viewers Stateside have warmed to him: "I think in some ways it's quite a release having a character that doesn't care what people think about him.
"Having said that he's not some sort of raging id who says the first thing that comes in to his head. In fact he's quite the opposite, everything he says is considered and in some ways it's considered to provoke a reaction and that's dramatically fascinating."
Jack Davenport holds his students in thrall as Smash's musical guru Derek Wills
He continues: "It's kind of his job to manipulate people and push them and pull things out of them. So far I've met people who've been kind of into him, but whether they want to take him home to meet their mother is an entirely different question."
Derek pulls no punches and spouts some fantastic lines in the show, such as: "Marilyn herself would have to pop out of that envelope and do me right here." He's the type of character viewers love to hate, but what makes him tick?
"It's essentially a desire to create the best show he can, unfortunately in trying to achieve that he can be quite abrasive and Machiavellian-like, and you don't necessarily want to be in the way when he's doing that. But that's the type of guy he is," says Davenport, best known for his role in nineties TV series This Life.
MORE: 'Glee's A Karaoke Show,' Says Smash Star
For Davenport, playing Derek gives him a chance to break out from the norm. He explains: "He couldn't care less about what anyone thinks about him. I sadly do care what people think about me, I wish I cared less but I don't and it's quite liberating to play someone like that.
"It gives you a huge amount of room to play and you don't get to meet a lot of people like that in the real world."
Davenport is proud of the originality of the show - notwithstanding its comparisons to Glee (which he disputes) - and "the fact that no one in this show has a gun or is wearing a white coat or is pleading in front of a judge".
He says: "There's plenty of those shows and they're great, and some of them are my favourite shows, but I didn't want to have to do one of them if I had a choice and in this case I did."
Smash starts on Sky Atlantic HD from the 21 April. Here are the music-makers in action...
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Cannes Film Festival: Kylie Minogue Arrives To Promote 'Holy Motors' (PHOTOS)
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'Tortoise In Love': 800 Villagers Make Guy Browning's Film Dream A Reality
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'The Voice' Review: Cheryl Cole Smashes Her Comeback Performance
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'The Voice' Finalists: Tyler James, Vince Kidd, Leanne Mitchell, Bo Bruce Triumph (PHOTOS)
Tyler James, Vince Kidd, Leanne Mitchell and Bo Bruce are the four singers that triumphed through to The Voice final on Saturday.
Surprisingly, two of the favourites from the BBC singing contest, Ruth Brown and Jaz Ellington, were sent home after failing to win enough votes from the public.
![the voice]()
Tom Jones said that his eliminated act Ruth, who was the bookmakers' favourite to win the competition will still be a "star."
"I will make sure of that, this girl has got something special. I'm going to do everything I can possibly do to help this girl."
And Will.i.am told his rejected act Jaz: "It's not everyday you get to meet people that are blessed with a gift like [you]."
Max Milner from team Danny O'Donoghue and Becky Hill from team Jessie J were also eliminated from the competition.
Meanwhile, Kylie Minogue performed her latest single Timebomb in hotpants and a string vest top, accompanied by dancers wearing little more than swimming costumes. The Aussie pop princess, whose career has spanned 25 years, told the contestants: "Don't berate yourself when things don't go your way, we all have highs and lows."
Last night's semi-final, which included an appearance by Cheryl Cole, was watched by the lowest audience of the series.
The show drew just 4.5 million viewers on average. The programme is now pulling in less than half the audience it attracted at its height during the early stages of the contest. At one stage in April the show had 10.7 million.
It was revealed that on next weeks final the coaches will perform a medley of each other's greatest hits.
What do you think of the results? Are the right people through to the final?
Surprisingly, two of the favourites from the BBC singing contest, Ruth Brown and Jaz Ellington, were sent home after failing to win enough votes from the public.
Tom Jones said that his eliminated act Ruth, who was the bookmakers' favourite to win the competition will still be a "star."
"I will make sure of that, this girl has got something special. I'm going to do everything I can possibly do to help this girl."
And Will.i.am told his rejected act Jaz: "It's not everyday you get to meet people that are blessed with a gift like [you]."
Max Milner from team Danny O'Donoghue and Becky Hill from team Jessie J were also eliminated from the competition.
Meanwhile, Kylie Minogue performed her latest single Timebomb in hotpants and a string vest top, accompanied by dancers wearing little more than swimming costumes. The Aussie pop princess, whose career has spanned 25 years, told the contestants: "Don't berate yourself when things don't go your way, we all have highs and lows."
Last night's semi-final, which included an appearance by Cheryl Cole, was watched by the lowest audience of the series.
The show drew just 4.5 million viewers on average. The programme is now pulling in less than half the audience it attracted at its height during the early stages of the contest. At one stage in April the show had 10.7 million.
It was revealed that on next weeks final the coaches will perform a medley of each other's greatest hits.
What do you think of the results? Are the right people through to the final?
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'The Voice' Cheryl Cole And Kylie Minogue Rocked Up - Did They Restore The Show's Credibility?
Two of pop's most desired females, Cheryl Cole and Kylie Minogue, were drafted in to up the viewing figures on The Voice this weekend, but did they do anything to restore credibility to the show?
They dutifully provided some sizzling performances, with Cheryl swan-diving 10 feet onto her waiting dancers, just for openers, to perform her new single Call My Name. And Kylie took to the stage in her much-loved denim hotpants and a customised leather jacket, surrounded by scantily-clad dancers, dressed in what looked like bondage swimming costumes, to perform her new song Timebomb... But neither set the world alight with their vocals.
The Voice is meant to be about great voices - something we've had drummed into us continuously throughout the series.
Strip away all the patterned crop tops, bright pink waistcoats, multi-coloured harem trousers and leopard print boots from Cheryl, and take away Kylie's hotpants and dance-moves and would they still give captivating performances? I'm not so sure.
More damningly, after she had promised to sing live on The Voice, fans accused Cheryl of miming her performance. Her publicist wriggled around the issue, saying: "She sang live with a backing track."
But viewers of The Voice took to Twitter to write: "A bit embarrassing that she's gone on a singing show and mimed," while another said: "Blatantly lip-synching... Such an irony that she's performing on a show that promotes real talent."
Cheryl and Kylie's performances were no doubt entertaining, but what they really did was illuminate the vocal talents of the show's contestants, compared to those of these huge stars.
Any hopes of the pair bringing in more viewers to the BBC singing show were quashed, as the Saturday show drew just 4.5 million viewers on average. The lure of the evening warm weather certainly didn't help TV bosses, either.
The programme is now pulling in less than half the audience it attracted at its height during the early stages of the contest. At one stage in April the show had 10.7 million. It's going to have to do something spectacular in next week's final if it is to emerge from Series One as anything other than a damp Fame-Academy-esque squib. Dare I say it... time to draft in the dancing dog?
PHOTOS: Cheryl on The Voice...
They dutifully provided some sizzling performances, with Cheryl swan-diving 10 feet onto her waiting dancers, just for openers, to perform her new single Call My Name. And Kylie took to the stage in her much-loved denim hotpants and a customised leather jacket, surrounded by scantily-clad dancers, dressed in what looked like bondage swimming costumes, to perform her new song Timebomb... But neither set the world alight with their vocals.
The Voice is meant to be about great voices - something we've had drummed into us continuously throughout the series.
Strip away all the patterned crop tops, bright pink waistcoats, multi-coloured harem trousers and leopard print boots from Cheryl, and take away Kylie's hotpants and dance-moves and would they still give captivating performances? I'm not so sure.
More damningly, after she had promised to sing live on The Voice, fans accused Cheryl of miming her performance. Her publicist wriggled around the issue, saying: "She sang live with a backing track."
But viewers of The Voice took to Twitter to write: "A bit embarrassing that she's gone on a singing show and mimed," while another said: "Blatantly lip-synching... Such an irony that she's performing on a show that promotes real talent."
Cheryl and Kylie's performances were no doubt entertaining, but what they really did was illuminate the vocal talents of the show's contestants, compared to those of these huge stars.
Any hopes of the pair bringing in more viewers to the BBC singing show were quashed, as the Saturday show drew just 4.5 million viewers on average. The lure of the evening warm weather certainly didn't help TV bosses, either.
The programme is now pulling in less than half the audience it attracted at its height during the early stages of the contest. At one stage in April the show had 10.7 million. It's going to have to do something spectacular in next week's final if it is to emerge from Series One as anything other than a damp Fame-Academy-esque squib. Dare I say it... time to draft in the dancing dog?
PHOTOS: Cheryl on The Voice...
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'X Factor' London Auditions: Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Tulisa, Rita Ora Give A Taste Of What's To Come
A man singing about cheap fish, a 19-year-old who could be Stacey Solomon's sister (accompanied by her pet Chihuahua) and an Iranian nuclear engineering student are just some of the weird and wonderful singers trying their luck on this year's X Factor.
Yes it's that time of year again when Simon Cowell's employees are on the hunt for the stars of the next series of TV's biggest song contest this side of Azerbaijan.
Part of this process involves holding auditions across the country, where hopeful warblers turn out in force - mums, other halves, nans and pets in tow - to impress the judges.
I was invited down to the London auditions held at the 02 Arena on Monday to meet a batch of singers trying their luck at getting into the competition - a competition which has provided a global platform, success and superstardom for some acts like Leona Lewis and One Direction, while stripping the dignity and dreams of others.
![gary barlow]()
What sort of people are hungry enough for fame to put themselves through the painful selection process - and wait for hours inside a building on a beautiful sunny day - to get the chance to sing in front of judges Gary Barlow, Tulisa, Louis Walsh and guest judge Rita Ora?
And then there are the thousands of X Factor fans they've got to impress, who've arrived to watch and ridicule the hopefuls from the wings.
Monday's audience was hungry for a laugh, growing impatient with one act who was asked to sing again and shouting "go back to Spain" at another.
We were reminded how vital their reaction is to the judging process - after saying he wasn't sure about whether to put someone through, Louis quickly changed his decision to a "yes" when the crowd started jeering and clapping for the act. Giving the people what they want seemed to be the rule.
![rita ora]()
I can't name the contestants, the songs they sung or their sob stories - everything must be kept under wraps to avoid "spoiling" the programme when it comes on air - but I can say, despite The Voice snapping up a fair few talented unsigned singers lately, there are plenty more out there still flocking to the X Factor .
And for every good act that demonstrated promise, there was another with the ability to murder songs on stage and stand proudly demanding to be put through by the judges, while the audience roared with laughter.
Although the last series depicted Gary as the man in charge, it was, in fact Louis Walsh who seemed to be running the show at these auditions.
The most sensitive of the bunch, Louis gave acts another shot once they'd forgotten their words or sang their own badly-written songs, picking more up-beat, popular numbers for them to perform to get the crowd going. You could tell he's a veteran.
![louis walsh]()
Meanwhile, Tulisa showed her usual lack of tact and gave her no-nonsense views clearly, telling one nervous girl "stick to the day job" and a cocky guy: "I don't think you're serious."
Gary was back on his high horse, shouting at the audience at one point: "You should be ashamed of yourselves," when they laughed at a petrified-looking performer. He was also the voice of reason. When it was needed, he claimed: "That was absolutely horrific", while reassuring another hopeful: "I absolutely love your vocal."
As for the guest judge, Rita Ora, unless you keep an eye on who's at the top of the charts you probably won't have heard of her. The R.I.P singer said: "I'm just like you - remember that. I've just started too. I'm here to help." And a novice she seemed as she dished out lines that mainly didn't make sense and claimed to like the people that everyone else hated.
It's unclear when the permanent replacement for Kelly Rowland will be announced - lets hope it's not Rita - there's even talk of Sharon Osbourne returning after a four-year absence. Judging by today's shenanigans, she'll fight right back in.
![x factor judges]()
Yes it's that time of year again when Simon Cowell's employees are on the hunt for the stars of the next series of TV's biggest song contest this side of Azerbaijan.
Part of this process involves holding auditions across the country, where hopeful warblers turn out in force - mums, other halves, nans and pets in tow - to impress the judges.
I was invited down to the London auditions held at the 02 Arena on Monday to meet a batch of singers trying their luck at getting into the competition - a competition which has provided a global platform, success and superstardom for some acts like Leona Lewis and One Direction, while stripping the dignity and dreams of others.
What sort of people are hungry enough for fame to put themselves through the painful selection process - and wait for hours inside a building on a beautiful sunny day - to get the chance to sing in front of judges Gary Barlow, Tulisa, Louis Walsh and guest judge Rita Ora?
And then there are the thousands of X Factor fans they've got to impress, who've arrived to watch and ridicule the hopefuls from the wings.
Monday's audience was hungry for a laugh, growing impatient with one act who was asked to sing again and shouting "go back to Spain" at another.
We were reminded how vital their reaction is to the judging process - after saying he wasn't sure about whether to put someone through, Louis quickly changed his decision to a "yes" when the crowd started jeering and clapping for the act. Giving the people what they want seemed to be the rule.
I can't name the contestants, the songs they sung or their sob stories - everything must be kept under wraps to avoid "spoiling" the programme when it comes on air - but I can say, despite The Voice snapping up a fair few talented unsigned singers lately, there are plenty more out there still flocking to the X Factor .
And for every good act that demonstrated promise, there was another with the ability to murder songs on stage and stand proudly demanding to be put through by the judges, while the audience roared with laughter.
Although the last series depicted Gary as the man in charge, it was, in fact Louis Walsh who seemed to be running the show at these auditions.
The most sensitive of the bunch, Louis gave acts another shot once they'd forgotten their words or sang their own badly-written songs, picking more up-beat, popular numbers for them to perform to get the crowd going. You could tell he's a veteran.
Meanwhile, Tulisa showed her usual lack of tact and gave her no-nonsense views clearly, telling one nervous girl "stick to the day job" and a cocky guy: "I don't think you're serious."
Gary was back on his high horse, shouting at the audience at one point: "You should be ashamed of yourselves," when they laughed at a petrified-looking performer. He was also the voice of reason. When it was needed, he claimed: "That was absolutely horrific", while reassuring another hopeful: "I absolutely love your vocal."
As for the guest judge, Rita Ora, unless you keep an eye on who's at the top of the charts you probably won't have heard of her. The R.I.P singer said: "I'm just like you - remember that. I've just started too. I'm here to help." And a novice she seemed as she dished out lines that mainly didn't make sense and claimed to like the people that everyone else hated.
It's unclear when the permanent replacement for Kelly Rowland will be announced - lets hope it's not Rita - there's even talk of Sharon Osbourne returning after a four-year absence. Judging by today's shenanigans, she'll fight right back in.
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