The X Factor 2009: auditions reach week two!

The second week of series six of X Factor has screened some of the highlights - and lowlights - from auditions in Birmingham and London.

And once again it was a mixed bag for the judges, as the Birmingham auditions got off to a shaky start with 50-year-old hopeful Alan Walton. Having missed his cue on the first attempt, Simon Cowell allowed him a second chance - and soon wished he hadn't.

Things continued in much the same way as Hungarian singer Kriztina Nagy and fellow wannabe Andrew Ellis failed to impress the panel.

"We've never had a winner from Birmingham," pointed out a weary Louis Walsh afterwards, "and we're not going to now."

Things picked up in London, however, where Trinidad-born Rozelle Phillips wowed all four judges with her rendition of the One Night Only from the musical Dreamgirls.

"That was incredible," Dannii told her, while Cheryl said it was "one of the best versions of that song I've heard".

Also making it through to the next round was leather-clad Behrouz Ghaemi whose rendition of Scissor Sisters' Take Your Mama was pronounced "very entertaining" by the judges - even if they thought his vocals left something to be desired.

And there was good news for 40-year-old Daryl Markham, who moved Cheryl to tears with his rendition of I Don't Want To Talk About It, and for big-haired musician Jamie 'Afro' Archer, who raised the roof with his version of Kings Of Leon's Sex On Fire.

"You're fearless and you know how to perform," Simon Cowell told him.

Of the groups who made it through, all-female trio Miss Fitz impressed the panel. "This is my favourite girl band and thank God you came through the door today," Cheryl said.

However it wasn't such good news for duo The Stunners, who failed to win over either the judges of the audience.

"It's rare to find two people as bad as you," Simon told the unlucky pair.