As you land in Gag City - the capital of a pink-drenched utopia - a neon glow bathes everything in shades of fuchsia, bubblegum and magenta. You are greeted upon arrival via the Barb Alert System by the undisputed Queen and Mayor, Nicki Minaj. Her voice booms across the sky: "Prepare for landing, Barbz! Clear waters, pink dolphins and free mansions await!" However, as we are mere visitors on this island, we have had to take careful measures to avoid instant wristband issuance. While the perks of glammed up hair, make-up, outfits and fly, pink couture may be tempting, our contestants are here for one reason only: to perform for the judging BuzzJack public and make it out of Gag City still in the competition.

Having still only lost Louise at the auditions, the women are standing strong in the competition with all seven landing safely in Gag City to perform again. We said goodbye to ENHYPEN and Tom Aspaul at Boot Camp, but now it's time for the remaining 19 contestants to unwind with a different backdrop and await their fate with the voting BuzzJack public.

How it works:

AI RitaBot 3000 is here in Gag City with the contestants and she's on hand to tell us how voting will work at Judges' Houses. The artists have all re-joined their respective categories. Once you've listened to all of the contestants perform you should post - in this thread - a ranking of each of the performances. You can rank them from best to worst (making clear which is your favourite down to least favourite), or use the template below:

01 (favourite)

02

03

04

05

06

07 (least favourite)

For those voting who have entered one of the contestants into the competition, you must rank all of the performances. You can either rank them inclusive of your own entry, if you have still not yet revealed your identity, or not. As with Boot Camp, there will be a penalty for non-voting at Judges' Houses. Failure to vote by a competing contestant will result in a 14 point deduction from your final score.

As always, if you aren't participating as a contestant in The Pop Factor you are more than welcome to cast your vote too!

When voting closes, the 6 contestants with the highest scores will proceed while ONE contestant will be eliminated from the competition with a one-way ticket home from Gag City and will not be going through.

But fear not, it might not be over for you indefinitely if Gag City gets the better of you. There's still a chance for one eliminated artist to return later in the competition with the power of The Golden Wagner!

Voting will close on Tuesday 10 June 2025, 18:59 BST

And now onto the main event... let's give a warm welcome to the contestants and see what trick they have up their sleeve for Judges' Houses!

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

Standard list of entries:

SASAMI feat. Clairo - In Love With a Memory

Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do

Addison Rae - Fame is a Gun

Rina Sawayama - Send My Love to John

Christina Aguilera feat. Lil’ Kim - Can’t Hold Us Down

Mary J. Blige - I’m Goin’ Down

Avril Lavigne - When You’re Gone

Extremely odd choice for Rina 🥲 I thought she’d have top five in the bag but I’m expecting that could even get her eliminated depending on Sasami’s newfound popularity 🥴

Yeah, looking at this list, Rina might be in for a surprise early exit!

1 hour ago, Calum said:

While the perks of glammed up hair, make-up, outfits and fly, pink couture may be tempting

I got a taste of the glamorous life

The ladies are bringing it this is stacked !!!

Oof a strong selection of the many I know!

1 Christina Aguilera and Lil' Kim

2 Avril Lavigne

3 Mary j Blige

4 Addison Rae

5 Sasami

6 Rina S

7 Ellie Goulding

8 I was aboot to kick off, as I couldn't find an 8th song, till I checked the first post and saw it was 7 anyway!!!

Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do

Addison Rae - Fame is a Gun (loved this, never heard it before)

Christina Aguilera feat. Lil’ Kim - Can’t Hold Us Down

Avril Lavigne - When You’re Gone

Rina Sawayama - Send My Love to John

SASAMI feat. Clairo - In Love With a Memory

Mary J. Blige - I’m Goin’ Down

1. Christina Aguilera feat. Lil’ Kim - Can’t Hold Us Down

2. Addison Rae - Fame is a Gun

3. Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do

4. SASAMI feat. Clairo - In Love With a Memory

5. Mary J. Blige - I’m Goin’ Down

6. Rina Sawayama - Send My Love to John

Made a quick change to my ranking

Spotify playlist inserted into the opening post.

01 Avril Lavigne - When You’re Gone (favourite)

02 SASAMI - In Love With a Memory (feat. Clairo)

03 Christina Aguilera - Can’t Hold Us Down (feat. Lil’ Kim)

04 Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do

05 Rina Sawayama - Send My Love to John

06 Mary J. Blige - I’m Goin’ Down

xx Addison Rae - Fame is a Gun (cannot vote for my own song)

14 hours ago, Josh! said:

Extremely odd choice for Rina 🥲

14 hours ago, RobBot said:

Yeah, looking at this list, Rina might be in for a surprise early exit!

Nooooo Rina can't leave this early! I might have to start bribing people for votes

In all honesty, I sent that song because I wanted to showcase her softer and more tender side. This is why I was hoping there'd be some sort of loose theme for each week, otherwise it's hard to know how to strategise. But if she makes it through to next week, I promise to send a banger!

1 Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do (fave, can't beat a Max Martin)

2 Avril Lavigne - When You’re Gone

3 Addison Rae - Fame is a Gun

4 Christina Aguilera feat. Lil’ Kim - Can’t Hold Us Down

5 SASAMI feat. Clairo - In Love With a Memory

6 Mary J. Blige - I’m Goin’ Down

1. AVRIL (FAVE)

2. XTINA

3. ADDISON RAE

4. ELLIE G 

5. SASAMI

6. MARY J

7. RINA

1. Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do

2. Christina Aguilera feat. Lil’ Kim - Can’t Hold Us Down

3. Addison Rae - Fame is a Gun

4. Avril Lavigne - When You’re Gone

5. SASAMI feat. Clairo - In Love With a Memory

6. Rina Sawayama - Send My Love to John

7. Mary J. Blige - I’m Goin’ Down

If we lose Rina without having us even TOUCH the ‘SAWAYAMA’ era… I s2g!!!!

But this song may indeed seal her fate. Aaagh! (I actually like the song)

01 Addison Rae - Fame is a Gun

02 Avril Lavigne - When You’re Gone

03 Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do

04 SASAMI feat. Clairo - In Love With a Memory

05 Christina Aguilera feat. Lil’ Kim - Can’t Hold Us Down

06 Rina Sawayama - Send My Love to John

07 Mary J. Blige - I’m Goin’ Down

8 hours ago, Mangø said:

Nooooo Rina can't leave this early! I might have to start bribing people for votes

In all honesty, I sent that song because I wanted to showcase her softer and more tender side. This is why I was hoping there'd be some sort of loose theme for each week, otherwise it's hard to know how to strategise. But if she makes it through to next week, I promise to send a banger!

Oh so THAT is who you have got!! Changing my ratings to put her in LAST place! 😙

Mary is getting destroyed with these early votes 😬😬😤.

I was so confident with this track!

Originally by Roll Royce and covered by Beyonce on her last tour!!

What a great song!