First look at X Factor Judges' Houses as Stormzy and Cheryl join Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell

The X Factor hopefuls have been flying across the globe as they get tantalisingly close to their dreams of taking over the charts.

Some 24 acts have made it through to the Judges’ Houses round, taking them one step closer to the upcoming live shows and that coveted record deal.

Louis Walsh has flown the Boys off to Istanbul, Simon Cowell has invited the Groups to the South of France, Nicole Scherzinger has set up camp in South Africa with the Overs and Sharon Osbourne has welcomed the Girls to San Francisco.

Each judge has recruited the help of some famous friends to take on the task of whittling their categories down to three acts.

Walsh was joined by Mika, Cowell by former judge Cheryl, and Scherzinger by Stormzy, while Osbourne turned the round into a family affair by calling on her children Kelly and Jack Osbourne.

Last year ‘wildcards’ were brought back from the dreaded Six Chair Challenge round to be given a second chance and in 2015 Monica Michael was picked as a wildcard after Judges’ Houses and taken through to the live shows.

But show bosses are keeping tight lipped about the prospect this year.

Judges' Houses will come a week after the singing competition descended into "absolute madness" as Walsh demanded a triple sing-off and Scherzinger stormed off stage following Cowell's dramatic last minute swap during the Six Chair Challenge.

The X Factor is on ITV, Saturday at 8:20pm.