The X Factor 2017, live shows week 4, Sunday: Holly Tandy and Rai-Elle Williams voted off ahead of semi-finals

• Holly Tandy and Rai-Elle Williams voted off in the weekend's second double elimination

• Grace Davies tops the phone vote, but is beaten by last night's winners Rak-Su in the prize fight

• Kevin Davy White and Matt Linnen also go through to next weekend's semi-finals

All of a sudden we're down to just six remaining X Factor acts who'll compete in next weekend's semi-final. So, how did we get here?

The right acts left tonight

Even before seeing the show, we thought Holly Tandy and Rai-Elle - both of them just 16 years old, to borrow a cliché from Louis Walsh - were the most likely acts to leave the show tonight. We're not psychic, or especially clever, we just didn't see how they could compete with darling of the judges Grace Davies, gravelly heartthrob Matt Linnen and flawless Kevin Davy White in the phone vote. It was the right decision, so well done the viewing public who had approximately nine seconds to vote. 

... which is good news for Sharon Osbourne

We can't help but think the quadruple elimination this weekend was all to ensure the most high-profile acts get more attention from their mentors and more opportunities to gobble up votes in the final weeks. Sharon did a decent job of pretending to look sad at the demise of Holly and Rai-Elle, but she can now focus on Grace Davies who, while no longer favourite to win (that'll be Rak-Su), still has a pretty good chance. 

What was the French Kev hoo-ha all about?

I Will Always Love You is a risky song to go for, but if anyone could handle it, it was Kevin Davy White. And handle it he did, putting his own stamp on one of the most iconic love songs ever. And yet the judges were weirdly critical, picking holes in what was a very impressive performance. It's almost as if they don't want him to win - lovely as he is, he probably has too many opinions to be guided by Syco, as we saw tonight when he dared to talk back to the judges, telling them they should remember to love each other (so charming, so French, so FORBIDDEN). We feel like there's a bit of "if you love someone, set them free" going on here and reckon he'll end up coming third or fourth overall - and then hopefully go on to find success away from the show.

He wasn't the only one who picked a huge song

Matt Linnen, Kevin's pal from the overs category, also took a risk by singing Alicia Keys's Fallin', but it paid off. He's not always bang on key, but his voice packs a punch, and he generally looks like he means it. We're glad he's made it to the semis, but if gets any further than that, it won't be his voice people are voting for.

Normal-ish service resumes next week

With only six acts left in the running (Matt, Grace, Kevin, plus last night's chosen ones Rak-Su, The Cutkelvins and Lloyd Macey), it would be silly and unfair to split their performances across two days. Instead, during next weekend's semis, they'll all perform on the same show - and presumably sing more than one song, because god forbid this thing lasts less than 29 hours or so. Oh, and Ed Sheeran will be there, apparently; he can show his face now since all the Ed Sheeran wannabes who queued up for the show were disposed of by Boot Camp.

And finally...

Last week, we had Lloyd Macey's bogey. And now, thanks to glorious HD...

8:55PM

Yep

We called it - it's goodbye to Holly and Rai-Elle, with their combined age of three. They did well, but were definitely the weaker acts tonight.

8:52PM

Rak-Su have won the prize fight obvs

It's all starting to feel a bit like a spoiler for the grand final...

8:31PM

Grace is the chosen one again

WHY? She's alright, but there were more memorable performances tonight. So up she goes against Rak-Su and their ever-pristine trainers (do they ever go outside?) in the prize fight...

8:16PM

Grace is sounding a bit weak and waily tonight

Wouldn't it be quite the shock twist if she ended up going tonight? It's about time we had one of those.

Obviously the judges don't want that to happen, though, so they're heaping on the praise. And saying "relevant" a lot, as ever. 

8:10PM

This modern music of Holly's is a risk with the cosy Sunday night crowd

We're currently eating crumpets, for instance. Ariana Grande & The Weeknd (yes, we had to google that) do NOT go with crumpets. Sadly we reckon she and her shiny tracksuit will be gone tonight. Sorry.

For once, Louis Walsh is being reasonably accurate, saying she could be in trouble tonight "because somebody has to go", but obviously this is an outrageous slight as far as Sharon Osbourne and the ever-angry audience are concerned.

8:05PM

Gosh, the overs are going BIG tonight

Hot off the heels of French Kev doing Whitney, Matt Linnen's doing Alicia Keys. It's his usual throaty, not always vocally perfect but quite enjoyable vibe. 

"That was the best performance you've done to date," says Sharon, over a lot of audience squawking. Meanwhile Simon says he's the "most improved" contestant. As much as we like a bit of Matt - oi oi, etc - did they really think he was better than Kevin? 

7:50PM

Kevin Davy White has gone there...

He's doing I Will Always Love You, which is a risky move, what with it being one of the biggest songs ever, both in terms of fame and high notes. Naturellement, his version is all stripped-back and acoustic and, well, kind of dreamy actually. We do like a bit of French Kev on a Sunday night. He makes us want red wine but we're WORKING (and pregnant). 

Hmm, the judges aren't so keen. "The guitar actually sounded out of tune," says Simon. "It didn't quite connect... but I still think you'll be here next week." He's also accused Nicole of pretending to cry! The cheek! As if anything on X Factor is in any way contrived. 

We like Kevin even more for his sassy French backchat. "Don't forget you all love each other," he tells the nasty judges. Swoon. 

7:37PM

Rai-Elle has sounded better...

We prefer her rapping to her singing, so we're glad she threw one into Mr Big Stuff - it was looking a bit wobbly until then. She's a great contestant but we're not convinced she'll survive the double elimination...

"I love your hair, I just want to squeeze it," patronises Nicole. "You remind me of a little baby British Lauryn Hill."

The judges are being largely positive, but Simon has acknowledged that some of her vocals were a bit off. We'd like to see Rai-Elle in the semis, but has she done enough? 

7:34PM

Wow, some intense Lovehearts product placement going on

Can you get them via Just Eat?

6:59PM

May the quadruple slaughter continue

So, last night it was goodbye to Sean & Conor Price and Sam Black, and we're starting to think the quadruple elimination was a pretty strategic decision on Simon Cowell's part, since it means his remaining acts - Rak-Su and The Cutkelvins - will theoretically gobble up more votes.

Tonight two more acts will leave the show, from the girls and overs categories, and if we had to guess, we think Holly Tandy and Rai-Elle Williams could be the ones sent on their way, which would just leave Grace Davies in the running from the girls category. But it all depends on how their song choices go down - here's what the whole gang will be performing tonight, thanks to the very flexible "crazy in love" theme...

Grace Davies: Hesitate (Grace Davies)

Holly Tandy: Love Me Harder (Ariana Grande & The Weeknd)

Rai-Elle Williams: Mr. Big Stuff (Jean Knight)

Kevin Davy White: I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)

Matt Linnen: Fallin’ (Alicia Keys)

The show starts at 7.30pm on ITV so watch along with us if that's your thing... or, y'know, enjoy some octopus sex on Blue Planet instead; either way, we'll be right here.