Introductions...Kate Thornton: So, Simon let's start with you and the 16 to 24s.
Simon Cowell: Okay, Kate. Let... (Shouting to be heard over the excited audience) let battle begin! It's Ray!
Intro clip...Ray: On Saturday I was like "Oh my God! I am in the semifinal!"
Kate Thornton: (Flashback, announcing the result) Ray! Congratulations.
Simon Cowell: Last week was the week I genuinely believed he could win this.
Sharon Osbourne: He was very, very good last week. He really was.
Ray: (Flashback, singing 'My Way' last week.) ¯ But through it all... ¯
Simon Cowell: (Flashback) Raymond Quinn, I'm very proud of you.
Ray: That was all I could ever have wanted. I was really overwhelmed by it.
Simon Cowell: It reminded me, and I also think it reminded Sharon and Louis, that this guy, from the very first time we saw him was one of the guys we thought could actually win the 'X Factor'.
Louis Walsh: I thought this young kid has got star quality.
Ray: From that first audition I knew I wanted to be here.
Val: (Ray's mum. Sitting alongside Ray's dad who's also called Ray) This is Raymond's dream and he doesn't want it to end. He is the baby of the competition, but every week he goes out there and leaves the baby behind and he's a man when he gets on that stage.
Simon Cowell: This is the dark horse now. This is the horse that's come up from the outside without anybody noticing. It was all about Ben, it was all about Leona, and he's gonna go into this show tonight with two huge songs and he is going to battle his way into the final.
Ray: Now it is in front of me, I can see that finishing line, the final and I am just looking at that and focused on it because that is where I want to be.
Back live...Kate Thornton: Ladies and gentlemen, Ray!
(Cheering and Applause)Ray sings...
¯ Smile, though your heart is aching ¯ Smile, even though it's breaking ¯ When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by ¯ If you smile through your fear and sorrow ¯ Smile and maybe tomorrow ¯ You'll see the sun come shining through, for you ¯ Light up your face with gladness ¯ Hide every trace of sadness ¯ Although a tear may be ever so near ¯ That's the time you must keep on trying ¯ Smile, what's the use of crying? ¯ You'll find that life is still worthwhile ¯ If you just sm-i-i-i-i-i-i-le ¯ Although a tear may be ever so near ¯ That's the time you must keep on trying ¯ Smile, what's the use in crying ¯ You'll find that life is still worthwhile ¯ If yo-o-o-o-u ju-u-u-u-ust... ¯ Smile, though your heart is aching Smiile, even though it's breaking ¯ When there are clouds in the sky you'll get by ¯ If you smile through your fear and sorrow ¯ Smile and maybe tomorrow ¯ You'll find that life is still worthwhile ¯ If you just smi-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ile! ¯
(Cheering and Applause) Sharon Osbourne: Ray!... Ray, I... (Laughs at the very enthusiastic audience) ...I tell you, you have been such a dark horse in this whole contest and here you are coming up on the outside. You know what? I did think that you were a one-trick pony but I was wrong. You are absolutely not...
(Cheering and Applause) Ray: (Laughs) Thank you.
Sharon Osbourne: ...You know... And you keep saying in your VTs, "Throw anything at me and I'll do it" and do you know what? Simon's been doing that and you've been delivering. God bless you.
Ray: Thank you.
Louis Walsh: Ray, you're in the semifinal because people like you. You've got a great personality. I love your work ethic, and you've got... of the three remaining people in this competition, you've got the best personality because you're you. You're absolutely great.
Ray: Thank you.
(Cheering and Applause)Simon Cowell: Ray, I'm going to keep this to a minimum because I don't want to tempt fate but I think you are one song away from going into the final next week.
(Cheering and Applause) Kate Thornton: So is Simon Cowell right? Ray will only get to final with your votes. (Kate gives out the voting details) ...But please don't call until the lines open after all three semi finalists have sung their first song. He'll be back for us later but for now, it's Ray!