Steve has been battling with his voice as Simon Cowell explains in his intro, "the next act I’m putting on, and I’m not making excuses here, this morning could not sing a note because he has laryngitis." The audience lets out a big ‘ahhh’ of sympathy, which hopefully will soothe Steve’s nerves, if not his voice box!

Sinitta has been busy styling Steve for tonight’s show, and she seems confident, is Steve?

He comes out smiling as ever and gets into his chosen song the Percy Sledge classic ‘When A Man Loves A Woman’. He sings it in a surprisingly high key, almost falsetto, perhaps it’s the laryngitis that has persuaded him to steer clear of the low notes?

It’s a nice enough sound, although we’ve definitely heard much stronger vocals from Steve during the auditions and boot camp. Nevertheless, considering the state of his larynx he can be well pleased with how it went. The audience too sound pleased, and so is Simon "Well done, you pulled it off" he tells him.

But has Steve pleased Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne?

Kate: Okay Louis, tonight Steve came here to win you over. Did he?

Louis: ...Kate...I mean Steve said I didn’t have a clue. I have had twenty-eight number 1s in my acts, he has never sold a record.

Kate: Twenty-Seven.

Louis: Twenty-Eight next week. (Groans) He hasn’t sold...he .... Girls Aloud, new single, Children In Need...he hasn’t sold a record yet. He’s quite a good singer.

Steve: No with re...

Louis: I don’t think you’re a star. You remind me of a cab driver that would sing cabaret at the weekends. (Boos – Steve smiles wryly.) That’s what I think.

Kate: Let’s hear from Sharon. Let’s hear from Sharon and you (Steve) can have your say back. Sharon?

Sharon: Erm. Steve, yesterday you were much better in rehearsals, and I know your voice isn’t good...but when you’re singing about ‘A Man Loves A Woman’ you just...ahh...you do grin at everything! (Steve grins) Why do you grin at everything?? I don’t get it, you grin. I mean I can slag you here and you’ll just keep grinning (laughter).

Kate: Thank you Sharon. (To Steve) So you’ve heard what they’ve had to say. You have been very unwell.

Steve: Uh-huh. I just want to say...it was with reference to, erm, about ‘me’, when I said you didn’t have a clue. It wasn’t about what you were doing in the past, it was just about me. When you were saying to me before you even heard much about me...

Louis: I think you’re a good singer.

Steve: Now...now I’m not smiling!

Kate: Simon?

Simon: No, the fact is he came up here tonight. He...he’s got laryngitis which is genuine. If this is what he’s like 50 per cent, what’s he gonna be like 100 per cent? Louis I...I’ve gotta say something: If you haven’t got anything constructive to say Louis, shut up!

Louis: Hello!! You’ve made a career out of it!