The X Factor, judges' houses, Sunday, review Just off camera throughout the many, many hours of Judges" Houses action on this weekend's X Factor was a man slowly and deliberately chopping an onion. On last night's show, the onion travelled to St Tropez and Los Angeles and tonight we saw its effects on the contestants who had been whisked by their judges and mentors to New York and Antigua. At least, this can be the only explanation for the constant flow of tears that the judges found themselves drowning in courtesy of their chosen ones. First, we saw Gary Barlow keeping a safe distance from his groups on a rooftop - a dangerously high rooftop, under the circumstances - in Manhattan. Still, perhaps the groups were upset because they felt a little hard done by - after all, if you had just flown first class to New York courtesy of a megabucks TV show, wouldn't you be expecting them to wangle some hot local talent to help out, perhaps a Jay-Z or Lady Gaga? Instead, Gary mustered up tight-trousered Essex boy and X Factor alumnus Olly Murs to help out with the judging privileges. It's like going on a week's R&R in the Algarve only to spy your annoying neighbour reading 50 Shades Of Grey on the next sun lounger along. Traditionally, the groups, along with Ye Olde Overs, are one of the duff categories on X Factor and, once the judges have found three passable enough to put through to the live shows, they're often first to bite the dust (with a few exceptions - namely One Direction and JLS. And Jedward. Never forget Jedward). This year, though, Gary's lucked out - tonight it became clear that he's got some of the strongest acts of the show. After much deliberating, he plumped for wonky-haired boy band Kingsland Road (they look like they've been rolling around in Nick Grimshaw's Oxfam bags, but can carry a tune), plus impeccably-groomed all female trio Miss Dynamix who sang All Saints" Pure Shores far better than All Saints themselves, and Croydon boys Rough Copy, who had been forced to continue as a duo after some unspecified "visa issues" meant that founding member Kaz couldn't fly to the US. They blubbed like babies when good old Gazza Bazza pulled a few strings and, back in South London, invited Kaz to rejoin the band. Let's just hope they never get so successful that they need to do a US tour. The weeping continued when Nicole Scherzinger, with the help of Mary J Blige (now there's an impressive guest judge. Take note, Barlow), attempted to whittle down her beloved girls. Again, the standard was pretty high and again, long-suffering Dermot O Leary's t-shirt was left dripping in a toxic cocktail of snot, mascara and fake tan as both happy tears and very, very sad tears rained down on him. Talented teenagers Tamera Foster and Hannah Barrett were always shoo-ins, and Hannah might just be the most likeable contestant on the show. The third spot could have gone to any of the remaining contenders but, in the end, Nicole opted for Abi Alton, the token "quirky" girl as indicated by her possibly unnecessary specs and definitely unnecessary hair flower. But it was all a bit depressing when sweet, desperate Melanie McCabe was sent home to Ireland - this was her fourth year on the show (four years! She could have done a Masters instead), and she kept blurting out things like "my whole life depends on this" and "this is do or die." It might seem that way now, Melanie, but there's always The Voice - Snow Patrol covers are all the rage over there.