Our local artists. Pic: ITV

This year’s X-Factor live shows are kicking off with an East London influence. Having made it past the judges’ house stage, three acts from Croydon and one from Hackney will take to the stage this Saturday.

A total of three Croydon acts have managed to secure their place in the first of the live shows which this year include a new ‘Flash Vote’, allowing viewers to decide which act will appear in Sunday’s sing-off. The live show stages of the talent competition come with a theme, the first of which is the 1980s.

Three-piece act Rough Copy survived judge Gary Barlow’s selection, despite member Kazeem Ajobe being unable to travel to Barlow’s New York house to perform. Barlow granted the group a place in the live shows and even allowed absent Ajobe to appear in future rounds.

Rough Copy. Pic: ITV

17 year old student and Gregg’s employee Hannah Barrett will also be flying the flag for Croydon when she takes the stage on Saturday. Hannah, a former student at The Archbishop Lanfranc School, reduced judge Nicole Scherzinger to tears with her rendition A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cook.

Hannah Barrett. Pic: ITV

Addiscome resident Lorna Simpson says she is determined to prove herself this Saturday. Judge Sharron Osbourne was impressed by the 26-year-old’s Beyoncé cover at her house in the last round and put her through to the next stage.

Lorna Simpson. Pic: ITV

Finally, representing Hackney on Saturday are five-piece boy band Kingsland Road. The band say they share a two bedroom flat in Haggerston and work in bars in the area to support their musical careers. Group judge Gary Barlow said the boy band brings him back to his days as part of popular boy band Take That and praised the band’s personality.

Kingsland Road. Pic: ITV

East London Lines will be bringing our readers live coverage of the programme on Saturday night. Please join us from 8pm on Saturday to see how the Croydon and Hackney acts get on!