‘The X Factor’ UK rankings: Where Anton Stephans, Jennifer Phillips, Ebru stand with Overs
We admit that going into the Judges’ Houses on “The X Factor” at this point last year, we were feeling all right about Simon Cowell and the Overs as contenders. Eventual winner Ben Haenow came from the category, and Fleur East was ultimately the runner-up. While Jay James didn’t make the finale, he was definitely strong in his own right.
This time around, there are a lot more unknowns in this category. There are two performers in particular we really like, but then the rest have either suffered through the edit, or are not necessarily people we see winning a public vote when they need to. Like all of our other contestant rankings so far, we’re ranking based mostly on performance quality, edit, and whether or not the voting public will rally behind them.
6. Max Stone – Seemingly nice guy, but we have almost no recollection of him before the Six Chair Challenge and that has to ultimately mean something. He just doesn’t have much of a clear personality, and in the midst of many other talented boy singers, he is incredibly likely to just get lost in the shuffle.
5. Kerrie-Anne Phillips – Unfortunately for Kerrie-Anne, we feel like almost the same exact thing is going to happen to her here. Heck, she is not even the most notable person in this category who carries with her the last name of Phillips. Very good voice, but little name recognition.
4. Bupsi – Bupsi’s a strange case. Very unique name, huge edit on the show, and a strong singing voice. Yet, can anyone take her seriously after that first audition? We worry that she is going to be very much thrown into camp territory and never given a great chance at this.
3. Ebru – She’s still a real enigma for us, given that we’ve seen her a few times and still cannot really pin her down. She’s talented and has a different-sounding voice than anyone else in the competition. For now, intrigue is enough to have us hopeful she will push through to the live shows.
2. Jennifer Phillips – Amazing singer, and seemingly also a really kind, amazing person. She’s the sort of person you want to see go far just because her energy is infectious, and she would probably want most of the other competitors to do well … provided that she still wins.
1. Anton Stephans – Anton is just the perfect package for this category. He’s got a clear story, a killer voice, humor, emotion, and relatability. We don’t know how he would be eliminated early in the live votes; people frankly like him, and are going to be interested in voting for him to stay.
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