

Championed by Mal throughout and the clear favourite with the bookies, Luke is a sweet and innocent young man. Away from the support and influence of his family, things will get tough for this Mancunian ladies' man. Particularly with a certain skeleton in the closet in the form of a family member. Despite all that, the girls love him and temptation comes his way at his first personal appearance

Where Luke is Mal's protégé, so Bethany is Karina's. The second favourite, Bethany is a highly emotional girl, given to mood swings that border on the suicidal. Her mum is pushy and controlling, determined to see her own shattered dreams lived through her daughter's success. Also has one or two skeletons in the closet. A stupid cry for help in episode one threatens to scupper her chances

Her love for Luke meant Dana had to be removed from the scene. So cunning Mal let Dana perform her own song on the show, Suicide Bride. Most of the viewers wanted to end it all after enduring her 'ballad'

Some nasty remarks about a group of wheelchair users put paid to Angel's run in the show. She tried to befriend Bethany but her advice could not be trusted. Good riddance to her

Karina gave him lots of attention but Jez went out in episode six. His face didn't show any emotion when the public's decision was announced

An inability to stand up straight on stage meant Sasha had to go. It was probably the pills and booze that did for her. Still, she's certainly boosted the profile of her punk band. Viewers loved her snarling grumpiness

Vernon gave them the star treatment but all his platinum disc-experience couldn't keep them in the competition. Their exit in episode six left the way clear for Bethany and Luke

Blink and you'll have missed poor old Sam. He doesn't last long in episode one, but long enough for Mal to completely diss him. Good-hearted and with a fine voice, Sam is grateful to have made it into the final stages of the show