The X Factor 2015: Simon Cowell picks Bupsi, Anton Stephans and Max Stone as his Overs at Judges’ Houses – and is haunted by a ‘ghost’

The head judge was convinced he saw ghostly activity in the French Riviera
Right note: Bupsi has secured herself a spot in the X Factor live shows
Thames/Syco/Fremantle
Tom Nicholson26 October 2015

Simon Cowell picked his three over-25 candidates for this year’s live X Factor finals, despite a brief visitation from a ‘ghost’.

Assisted by One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Cowell whittled his six over-25 candidates down to Bupsi Brown, Anton Stephans and crowd favourite Max Stone.

Bupsi clearly impressed Tomlinson as she performed Ginuwine’s hit Pony while cheekily perched on his knee.

South-east London-based former backing singer Anton Stephans, 45, made it through too.

A clearly delighted Stephans, who melted hearts by bringing his dog Honey along with him to his audition, declared that: “If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up”.

Stone had been dismissed by Cowell during the Six Chair Challenge but was called back due to the wild reaction his performance drew from the Wembley crowd. He was Cowell’s final choice to join the live shows line-up.

27-year-old Ebru Ellis’ rendition of Ed Sheeran hit Photograph drew appreciation from Tomlinson, but ultimately she wasn’t able to secure a place on the live shows.

Jennifer Phillips, who sang Tomlinson’s own Drag Me Down back at him didn’t make it through, but vowed that she needed “to give the world some of me; this is just the beginning”.

In spite of sharing her inspiring “Dream, risk, live” motto with the country, teacher Kerri-Anne Phillips also fell by the wayside.

Cowell was also briefly convinced that he had spotted a ‘ghost’ hanging around the haunted chateau at which the contestants performed, though more sceptical viewers pointed out that it was more likely just a member of production staff.

X Factor Judges 2015

1/11

ITV, 8pm

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