Last week 11 million tuned in to watch the return of The X Factor. Birmingham starts off tonight's talent search. It's a heartbreaking start so for so many at the beginning of the Birmingham auditions and Simon gets fed up and leaves for lunch after having a depressingly dull morning.

31 year old Gavin is a wedding singer but wants to perform in front of millions. He jokes with the judges before he sings Your Love Keeps Lifting Me. A number of others also make it through from Manchester including Steph who sang Songbird.

Last year, Paris tricked her way into the auditions and was loved by the judges unitl she revealed she was only 14. Now that the age limit has been lowered, she's back again to audition. The judges are excited to see her again now that she's 15 and she believes she has improved. She's very operatic in her approach to I Will Always Love You. Everyone says yes but Dannii and with that, Paris is thrilled.

Cardiff is the next stop for the judges and wanting to impress his father is 22 year old Andy, an asbestos remover. He sings a fantastic version of Fly Me To The Moon and improvises with the lyrics and requests Dannii to kiss him. Sharon says no but the rest are all confident he can overcome his nerves.

The judges then encounter the most obnoxious auditionee they've ever had. Rachel, who admits she's lazy, thinks she's better than Madonna and can sing anyone. She's got a bad attitude and when the judges tell her their opinion she explodes in a burst of foul mouthed garbage. She gets a little close and security is called in and she is escorted from the building, swearing and cursing and threatening all the way out the door.

Brazilian Icaro who has been married for 20 years to one woman is all about sharing the love. Simon can't stand him but when he mentions that the he looks a little like Simon then everyone else wants him at boot camp.

There are plenty of great acts making it through to bootcamp and it's been an eventful and emotional day.

22 year old Private Ryan Lindsay has decided that he's done his bit for his country and now he wants to do something for himself. He's auditioning for The X Factor. He lost two of his mates in Iraq and still gets nightmares from the experience. He sings Lean On Me and gets yeses all round so now he'll be off to a boot camp of a different kind.