The X Factor: it's the semi-final!

The pressure was on for the four remaining acts in X Factor on Saturday as they each made their bid for a place in next weekend's final.

As with last week's quarter final they each performed two songs the first half of the show was a tribute to Michael Jackson while the second half saw them each perform a track chosen for them by their mentor.

Olly Murs kicked the show off with a lively rendition of Can You Feel It, which thrilled both audience and judges. "You have to be in the final," Dannii told him, "we can all feel it in the room tonight!"

His second song, a version of The Beatles chart-topper We Can Work It Out, also won him praise from the panel. "If I was at home next to a phone I'd pick it up," Dannii said.

And once again it was a great night for Joe McElderry, who barely put a foot wrong with his version of the Jacko ballad She's Out Of My Life.

"You're just getting better and better," said Simon, who went on to say it was "one of the best versions of that song I've ever heard."

He did well in the second half with the Journey song Open Arms, despite performing a track relatively unknown to the audience.

"You were absolutely born to do this," Louis enthused. "I think if you recorded that song in the morning you'd have a number one hit with it."

Stacey Solomon, meanwhile, went uptempo for her first track, a cover of The Way You Make Me Feel which saw her tackling a complicated dance routine.

Cheryl said it was "nice to see you moving around the stage for once," but Simon and Louis were less keen. "I don't think the song suited you," Louis complained.

The Essex girl fared better in the second half of the show which saw her back on more familiar territory, singing the West Side Story ballad Somewhere.

Louis described her performance as "incredible", while Simon added, "you are back in the game."

Finally Danyl kicked off his bid for the final with the Jackson classic Man In The Mirror. "It's really good to see you up there and giving it some again," a delighted Cheryl told him.

And his second song of the evening, the Whitney Houston track I Have Nothing, also won raves.

"The song is I Have Nothing," Louis remarked, "I think you've got everything."

The results will be announced on Sunday evening's show.