X Factor is nothing if not unpredictable. Live show 4 offered us  a stand out performance from 17-year-old Cher Lloyd. In an emotional performance of Shakespere’s Sisters Stay Cher wiped the floor with her critics. What a voice. However she didn’t look entirely comfortable and was clearly weepy by the end of her performance.

However the emotion she brought to the performance made it special and perhaps she benefited from the pared down production with  Simon Cowell describing Cher’s rendition of Stay as ‘the performance of the entire season’.   Way-to-go Cher! Brilliant song choice Cheryl!

There were no surprises when it came to the eliminations. Favourites to go Bell Amie were duly dispatched after a sing off with Katie Waissel. Bel Amie’s performance of Bananarama’s Venus clearly had some off notes regardless of Simon’s comments.

Katie Waissel is clearly talented, but perhaps not in a way that makes her a great fit for the X Factor. Is she still fighting the Gamu backlash?  Probably.

But here’s the real problem. This year the X Factor has some outstanding talent. At this stage it’s clearly possible to see at least four acts will have careers beyond the X Factor. Our pick at week 4 are Matt Cardle, Rebecca Ferguson, Cher Lloyd and One Direction.