Verdict: three stars.

If you're an X Factor fan, a TV addict or your music tastes come from the top 40, your Friday started right at the SSE Hydro...well almost, there was no Dermot O'Leary.

The poptastic live version of the ITV show which turns us into hermits at the weekends - don't deny it, even if you do go out, you still record the show - kicked off Fleur East style.

Syco - the music label owned by judge Simon Cowell - hottest signing treated the X-Factor faithful to Macklemore's Can't Hold Us and it was from the opener that it was clear she would be given a star slot in the show.

Performing favourites such as Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass and Jessie J's Bang Bang, Fleur is definitely one to watch especially with Cowell's backing.

You just have to watch the performance of Mark Ronson's and Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk she pulled out the bag on the show. It could easily rival the likes of Beyoncé.

In pretty much the same format as this year's show, the crowd were treated to performances from Jay James, Only The Young, Stereo Kicks, Andrea Faustini, Lauren Platt and of course Stevi Ritchie.

He really was Livin La Vida Loca with his performances and proved why he stayed in the show for so long.

You can't help but smile when Ritchie takes the stage and you actually find yourself rooting for him - I'm sorry but it's true.

After all the excitement of seeing the stars live and not from the comfort of your own sofa, it was time for a break - and this is where the producers made a big faux pas.

Hello Newcastle, the VT announcer screamed.

Talk about awkward, lucky us Scots quickly forgive.

Well, it helped that Jay James sang The Proclaimers' 500 miles, always a winner.

Round 2 came and it was pretty much the same format - except the staging was beyond irritating.

The artists kept switching between the main stage and a centre one, by the end of the show most of us on the ground level developed a stiff neck...or maybe I'm just getting old.

But we quickly got over that when the main man arrived, Ben Haenow.

Instantly you could see why he was the winner as he delivered pitch perfect versions of Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud and John Lennon's Jealous Guy.

There was much debate over his win, with many fans saying it should have been Fleur.

But having seen the man in action, it is clear he really does have the X Factor.

An ensemble of Never Forgot finished things off nicely. It is a perhaps interesting song choice given most contestants fall into obscurity especially the winners.

But for the sake of saving artistry - something Fleur and Ben clearly have, fans can only hope they head into the hall of fame to join the likes of Olly Murs, One Direction and Ella Henderson.