The biggest singing competition in the UK got under way tonight without music mogul Simon Cowell and what an opening show.

Northern Ireland teenager Janet Devlin completely mesmerized the judges and brought the audience to a standing ovation on The X Factor

Sitting comfortably in their seats along the panel were judges Louis Walsh, Tulisa, Kelly Rowland and Gary Barlow as ITV1 X Factor search for a singing star got under way but it had to be the young, shy and extremely sweet Janet Devlin that blew everyone away.

Performing her rendition of the classic Elton John Hit Your Song, the teenager arrived on stage very nervous giving no clue to her amazing vocal talent that left the arena so quiet you could hear a pin-drop.

As soon as Janet Devlin finished her performance the audience were up on their feet applauding and cheering her on and you could see US star Kelly Rolwand mouthing WOW!

All the judges agreed that Janet Devlin absolutely delivered a fantastic audition, Tulisa found her voice so beautifully endearing, Louis told her she had a distinctive voice, Kelly was left in a trance from Janet telling her that she was a star and can’t wait to see her develop, Gary Barlow was left mesmerized and told her it was a fantastic audition, it was four massive Yesssss’ for the slightly overwhelmed teenager.

Also through Boot Camp was first audition of the night cheeky chappy Frank Cocoza, 18, from Brighton who came on stage winking to all the girls and then showed them his bare backside because Tulisa didn’t believe him when he told them he had the names of seven girls names etched in ink, but when he dropped his boxers, there they were. Frank went on to perform his rendition of late soul singer Amy Winehouse’s massive hit Valerie, and the judges really like him and gave him four thumbs up and put him through.

The next audition to stand out was Kitty, 26, from Gloucestershire who belted out her rendition of Lady Gaga’s, Edge of Glory, which she delivered well but kind of shocked everyone when she sat down on the edge of the stage and chatted about her performance in front of 4,000 people! Kitty’s rather strange behaviour raised more than a few bewildered eyebrows. Tulisa described her as being the kind of person that people will either love or hate (ring nay bells?) and despite the judges all in agreement to put her through, Kelly said that she found Kitty quite scary, as if she had seen two people up there on the stage!

Next to get put through was slightly crazy Tina Turner wannabe Goldie, 40, originally from Hong Kong. She took her time coming out on stage because she was busy breathing in to a sick bag to steady her nerves. Once out in her tiny costume she burst in to a song that no-one had heard of, Copper Bell? and entertained everyone shaking her ‘thang’, to the words, ding da da ding, da ding do do, etc, but when asked by Gary is she had another audition song she didn’t hesitate and burst in to a highly energetic rendition of Tina Turner’s Rolling, Rolling, Rolling Down The River, eventually the judges decided to put her through, all except Gary Barlow who appeared to be disappointed.

Also making it through tonight was Roxy, 19, from Essex, Girl band SoSo Status, 18, and Heshima Ishma, 24.