X Factor: Rough Copy will be a trio for the live shows

Image source, PA

Image caption, Rough Copy performed as a duo for the judges' houses stage of The X Factor

X Factor finalists Rough Copy will be a trio for the live shows.

Two of the Croydon group, Joey James and Sterling Ramsey, became a duo after visa issues stopped founder member Kazeem Ajobe travelling to New York for the judges' houses stage.

However, judge Gary Barlow met the 24-year-old after the band had made it to the live finals and asked him to return.

He said without Ajobe, Rough Copy were like "a body with a piece missing".

The band were chosen for judges' houses in 2012 but had to pull out of the show after Kazeem Ajobe's visa was not sorted out in time to allow him to leave the UK.

Image source, PA

Image caption, Rough Copy (right) went through with Miss Dynamix and Kingsland Road (left)

Rough Copy will be joined in this year's live finals by girl group Miss Dynamix and boy band Kingsland Road.

Meanwhile, Nicole Scherzinger put through A-level student Hannah Barrett, 16-year-old Tamera Foster and Abi Alton, 19, in the girls' category.

However, Irish singer Melanie McCabe missed out on the live shows for the fourth time after being sent home by Nicole Scherzinger.

The 20-year-old was eliminated by judge Kelly Rowland at judges' houses in 2011 and also auditioned in 2008, when she was rejected by Cheryl Cole, and in 2012, when she made it to bootcamp.

Jade Richards from Fife was also rejected for the fourth time.

Shelley Smith, Sam Bailey and Lorna Simpson were chosen by Sharon Osbourne in the over-25s group and Louis Walsh put through Sam Callahan, Nicholas McDonald and Luke Friend, who are all under 20, in the boys' category.

The first show at the judges' houses was watched by 8.5 million people, 800,000 fewer than Strictly Come Dancing's first live vote on 大象传媒 One.

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