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The XF Australia is coming back after a really successful season with a brand new judges panel and a much better look. Hosted once more by Luke Jacobz, returning judges Guy Sebastian and Ronan Keating are joined by Mel B and Natalie Bassingthwaighte who are replacing Natalie Imbruglia and Kyle Sandilands. The age limit has been dropped to 14 this year in the hopes of finding a singing Justin Bieber. Will this new look prove as successful as last season? Will the talent be better? I hope so ... It's time to face the music!

Recap and videos after the JUMP ...


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And it's back!! Australia's biggest singing competition is hitting our screens once more joined by two new judges and a brand new look. "If you can't find an international superstar, you've failed" Simon Cowell told the judges before the competition begins. The show is much bigger and much better ... Who will have what it takes?

With the new age being dropped to 14, there will be a lot less spots for this hopefuls. Plus, the contestants will be joined by celebrity mentors when they reach the judges houses. Good Charlote, Mel C, Leona Lewis, Jason DeRulo, The Veronicas and Beyonce will be helping the judges whittle them down. But there's a long path before that. First up ... the auditions!

Starting in Melbourne, the first contestant to perform is Andrew Wishart (40), father of 4 and a sale manager. He's singing Adele's "Someone Like You" to several wierd faces from the audience, which I really don't get. He doesn't really looks like a joke contestant and he's got personality! Haha. Andrew proceeds to shut up their faces with his fabulous raspy voice and smooth tone. He gets a standing o! Well, by everyone but Mel B, who is apparently playing the bitch this season. Oh no, she says she's just too pregnant, which explains why she looks so big at the start. Haha. Nat tells his kids to come on stage, aw, she's the sweet one! The judges loved him and so did I. Great start for the season! - VIDEO

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It's Mel's birthday! Cake cut, presents ... and leopard print. So we've get our next hopeful, Tyla Bertolli (19), who was previously signed to an indie label.  She's performing "Dog Days Are Over" and she's kinda bombing. The start was really rough and almost out of pitch but she picked it up towards the middle. It was messy still but her voice is good, she can improve without the nerves. Her voice isn't that special but I see a lot of potential in her. The judges are split on her. Mel liked her, while the others didn't. Mel says yes, and so does Guy. Ronan however gives her a no. Nat has to decide. So it's a yes! She's through! - VIDEO

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We are off to Sydney now! And the talent sucks. "I couldn't stop looking at your nipples" tells Mel to a hopeful, "I say nipples too" says Nat. Is there any hope for Sydney? Well, Young Men's Society is hoping to prove there is. The trio works in a retail together. Guy tells them "We've seen a lot of rubish today" Haha! Oh! This ain't half bad! They've got some pretty harmonies, which is important for groups, and some really smooth and sweet voices,  plus they can dance! They would make a great show certainly. Definitely a great audition.  - VIDEO

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 Triple XF? Yeah, we are now seeing a montage of guys showing off some abs, and then sucking at their actual audition. I guess abs and singing don't go together. And neither are cute guys and singing. "You're pretty lucky that you are good looking cause you can't sing" tells Nat. Haha. "It's not Abs Factor, it's the X Factor" says Guy after Nat and Mel almost put through one of the hotties. Will the Paul Browne prove that abs and singing can make a good match? "This boy has bigger boobs than me" says Nat. Well, apparently not. It's a fact now, if you want to be a singer, don't have abs! He's a bigger joke than Wagner. "You suck" Nat tells him. I love her. Haha. - VIDEO

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Originally from England, the next hopeful is Reece Mastin (16) who promises to surprise the judges with his song choice, "Come Get Some". Well, that's not the surprising part, it's his voice! He's got a great big rock voice, with some real raspiness and he hit every note. Wow, that was impressive. Judes love Reece and he's through to bootcamp! Guy tells the guy, "One day I'm gonna say to my kids that I said yes to you". - VIDEO

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We are heading to Brisbane now but Guy won't be joining us here, he's in LA on tour. With a horrible start, the next contestant hopes to improve Brisbane's standars. Mitchell Callaway (25) was a bad guy when he was young and had a lot of trouble with the law. He then broke his neck while playing footbal and had to quit,  so he decided to try singing. He looks really awkard on stage and really nervous. Still, he manages to perform a beautiful rendition of Keith Urban's "Tonight I Wanna Cry". He's got a distinctive country twang going on there and a great tone. He gets really emotional at the end. "This country is gonna go wild with you" says Nat. - VIDEO

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Back again at Sydney, we are now going to see 14 y/o contestants. Cameron Koch gives as a Justin Bieber-ish performance, with a horrible sharp voice, he's sent back home, with Ronan telling him to try again next year. Next is Gina Beard who is 15 y/o and as shaky and messy as the previous contestant. Peter Wood (14) follows. "Don't worry guys, everyone has an opinion", says Peter when he's being rejected. He looks like the Modern Family kid! Too cute!

Will the next junior contestant show that she can sing? Christina Parie (15) is hoping to impress with her abilities. And she is! Wow, she's got a really big voice. Reminds me of Sally Chatfield's but a little less powerful, though that final note was incredible. She gets 4 yeses. - VIDEO (XF Aus Site)

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Going to Melbourne now, twin sisters Mel and Amy (18), Upfront, are trying to get a spot at bootcamp with heir act. Well, they seriously need a makeover and they are also incrediblly annoying. They are singing "Till the World Ends", well, that kinda explains the outfit. They are a mess, as expected, and their voices sound too sharp. Why is this people clapping?? Did they like that? Ronan unexpliacably says yes, Nat says yes also, cause she wants Ronan to get the groups. Guy, being reasonable says no. Mel looks like shes saying yes, and she is. WTF is wrong with them? Haha. - VIDEO

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The final contestant of the day is Emmanuel Kelly, who's originally from Iraq. He was adopted along with his brother. They both lost their limbs. He's singing "Imagine", and he's nailing it. Not to mention he's getting everyone emotional. That was a terrific audition. Major standing o! A possible lock for the liveshows? - VIDEO

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Wow, that was a great show! The talent was great and the joke contestants were actually funny. The judges work perfectly together. I'm seriously loving this new panel. My fave right now has to be Nat. She was just amazing. Plus she was the one that made me laugh the most. I'm definitely looking forward to see more from her!
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