ANOTHER X Factor weekend and another set of rave reviews from the judges for our boy, James Arthur.

This week, the Saltburn singer performed a sort of hip hop version of No Doubt’s Don’t Speak.

Gary Barlow described it as a brilliant performance, while Nicole Scherzinger gushed: “I’m in awe of you.”

If the former Pussycat Doll ever came up to the North- East, she would realise James’ much discussed “darkness and intensity” is most blokes’ default-look up here – it’s the weather.

When he finally has a bad week, perhaps “dark and moody” will transform into “tears and tantrums”. Probably not though. Seems like a nice lad.

There were some other good performances, notably by the young lass and the bloke with the incredibly straight hairline.

For a minute I thought Gary wasn’t wearing a poppy on the show. Everyone else had one, but it seemed the former boy band member had forgotten, or even decided not to wear one – shock, horror, fetch me my quill, so I can write to someone to complain. Then I saw it. It was a small, stylized poppy that they certainly don’t sell in the Shell garage I use. But still, it was a poppy. Panic over.

Anyway, James went through to next week.

So did District 3, which was a bit of a surprise.

Kye and Rylan battled it out in the sing-off and after more suspicious judge dithering resulting in further deadlock nonsense, it was Kye who got the boot despite actually being able to sing.

I thought about being angry, but realised I didn’t care.