Brenda Edwards
Song: Midnight Train To Georgia   (Gladys Knight and the Pips  )

Brenda looks ever more fabulous by the week and she walks out on stage tonight exuding class, styled elegantly in a dark striped and sleeveless evening suit.

Last week Louis told her she was like the great Gladys Knight. The comment may have registered because here she is belting out one of Miss Knight's greatest hits 'Midnight Train To Georgia'.

She delivers the song note perfect and demonstrates excellent vocal power and control. Strangely, despite all this, we don't think tonight is quite up there with her 2 previous performances.

At the points in the song where we expect to hear Brenda's 'oomph', it's not quite there. Maybe her delivery tonight is just a little too controlled? We are nit-picking of course. If this was the first time we'd seen Brenda we'd be raving about her. That's the only trouble with being outstanding, you raise everyone's expectations!

Happily for Brenda, the judges aren't in a nit-picky mood.  She gets "brilliant" off Louis and Simon, and "spectacular" off Sharon. She's thrilled as it's the first week when all 3 of them have been totally positive. She's not taking things for granted though and she reminds the viewers to "pick up your phone and vote for Brenda!", before breaking off into her trademark laugh, which is indeed both brilliant and spectacular!

Panel-Bites:

Sharon Osbourne:  (Introduction) Okay, the first lady up for my category is the diva herself. The very beautiful, Brenda.

Intro clip...

Brenda:  I am the oldest woman in this whole competition. I'm a mum of two. By day I'm an accounts manager.

Sharon Osbourne:  With Brenda, it's like she's been living in a bubble for the last two weeks and it's only now that she's finally realised how far she's come.

Brenda:  I'm singing in front of 10 million viewers and the thought of that is really overwhelming.

Sharon Osbourne:  She's doing this as much for herself as she is for every over 30 who still wants to be a star.

Brenda:  I am trying to represent those over 30s... those over 35s... I'm getting close to my age now! (Brenda laughs)

Sharon Osbourne:  I mean for god's sake, look at Madonna. She's nearly 50 and she's amazing.

Brenda:  (Geeing herself up) Come on over 35s let's rock it! (She laughs)

Brenda sings...

Kate Thornton:  Louis! Your comments please?

Louis Walsh:  Brenda!... I said I think last week or the week before you reminded me of Gladys Knight and I'm so glad you sang a Gladys Knight song tonight. It's one of my favourite songs. It was a brilliant, brilliant performance. You're an absolute star! (Brenda grins. Loud cheers from the audience.) ...And well done!

Brenda:  Thank you.

Louis Walsh:  Fantastic.

Brenda:  Thank you Louis.

Kate Thornton:  Thanks Louis. Simon?

Simon Cowell:  That, by any standards was a great performance and the best compliment I can give you tonight is... is that it didn't feel that you were singing somebody else's song. It was as if that was your song. It was a fantastic performance. (Applause) And Brenda, you know, I thought madame (Sharon) had transformed over the past few years, but your transf... you're like Shirley Valentine... (Simon laughs, Brenda and Sharon join in.) ...I mean it's like living a whole new life here. (Nods approval) Brilliant, well done.

Brenda:  Thank you Simon.

Kate Thornton:  Thanks Simon. (Cheers) Sharon? You're Brenda's mentor, how do you think she's evolved tonight?

Simon Cowell:  She's outshowing you now darling.

Sharon Osbourne:  Of course she is, she's spectacular. Brenda I admire you so much. You are such an amazing woman. You are living out your dream. Every week you get more beautiful, because you are inside and it shows on the outside... and your voice, you're unstoppable!

Brenda:  (Smiling) Thank you Sharon. (Applause)

Sharon Osbourne:  God bless you.

Simon Cowell:  Very good.

Louis Walsh:  (Claps vigorously)

Kate Thornton:  Wow, Brenda! Knockout comments! What would you like to say to the judges?

Brenda:  To all 3 judges I'd just like to say thank you so much. This is the first week that I've been on the show that I've got good comments from everybody, so... you know...

Simon Cowell:  You deserved them.

Brenda:  ...I'm just gonna go with that. Run with that and hopefully, you know, rock it again next week if the public vote for me. (Cheers)

Kate Thornton:  (To Brenda) Now listen, tonight Sharon said you were unstoppable. Simon said 'a star'! Are you feeling unstoppable Brenda?

Brenda:  I'm feeling really good. It's like every week I learn something new, and you're never too old to learn something new Simon. So, you know, hopefully everybody at home...

Simon Cowell:  (Looks bemused)

Sharon Osbourne:  Good point, good point.

Brenda:  The overs, the unders, the in betweens! Pick up your phone and vote for Brenda! (Big laugh, Sharon joins in!)

Kate Thornton:  So, if you're goin' to listen to Brenda... (Kate gives out voting numbers etc.) ...ladies and gentlemen please show some appreciation for Brenda! (Brenda takes a mini-bow, kisses Kate and leaves the stage)