‘The X Factor’ UK preview: Sherilyn Hamilton Shaw leaves Cheryl Fernandez-Virsini emotional

We have one final preview for you leading up to the finale for “The X Factor” UK auditions this weekend, and this time around, it is someone who is making Cheryl Fernandez-Virsini rather emotional.

Sherilyn Hamilton Shaw is her name, and she sings a stirring cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.” Yes, we could spend a minute or two if we wanted bemoaning the fact that it is yet another contestant singing a Whitney song to try out for a singing show. However, at this point we’re starting to think that producers are really steering contestants into this; maybe they’ve got a good deal on licensing this music or something. (We can’t speak specifically about Shaw’s case.)

What we’ll say about her performance in relation to many other people we’ve heard perform Whitney songs on this show is that Shaw gives it a certain charisma and power. It’s not just about hitting the biggest notes possible; instead, it’s about injecting some life to the lyrics, and making sure you deliver your intention across to the audience. Cheryl’s reaction really proves that she is successful in this very thing.

Ultimately, this audition season has been about surprising tears. Josh Daniel’s audition remains for many one of the biggest moments of the entire run so far, in particular with the way that he elicited such a strong reaction out of Simon Cowell without really having it as an intention to do. As of right now, he and girl group 5th Power may be the closest things that we have as locks to make it to the live shows.

You can watch another preview now for the auditions this weekend by heading over to the link here now. Also, you can sign up here to get some other TV news on everything we cover, sent right over to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ITV.)