The Battleground... an amphitheatre carved from obsidian cliffs under a crimson sky, the arena hosts a brutal musical showdown where sixteen virtuosos compete for survival. Only eight will advance, their fates decided by raw talent, unrelenting drive, and war itself. The arena pulses with energy: a stage rigged with holographic projectors, sonic amplifiers, traps that react to off-key notes or faltering rhythms, chains and flames consuming every corner. Above, a roaring crowd of thousands, both human and AI, judges every move, their cheers and jeers amplified by algorithms that measure emotional impact. Who will cross from one side to another and make it safely to their Uber?

How it works:

AI RitaBot 3000 has secured an official gallery marked as safe to look onto the Battleground and tell us how things will work. Judges' Houses was your last chance to squeeze past your competition because from now on everybody comes together. 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

03-14

15

16 (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 revealed your identity, or not. As with Judges' Houses, there will be a penalty for non-voting at the Battleground. Failure to vote by a competing contestant will result in a 32 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! Now, more than ever, at this crucial stage in the competition it is most definitely encouraged to keep your favourite safe.

When voting closes, only EIGHT contestants will have made it safely to the other side of the Battleground in a direct Uber to the Live Shows while EIGHT contestants will be eliminated from the competition.

However... there is still a chance for one eliminated artist to return to the competition with the power of The Golden Wagner. This is your last chance to either make it through or rely on that power to bring you back.

Voting will close on Tuesday 17 June 2025, 18:59 BST

And now...

Let battle begin.

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Standard list of entries:

Enrique Iglesias feat. Ciara - Takin’ Back My Love

Elton John - I’m Still Standing

Christina Aguilera - Fighter

James Blake - Loading

Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding - Miracle

Addison Rae - Times Like These

CHVRCHES - Graves

The Saturdays - All Fired Up

Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending

Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home

Charlie Puth - How Long

Mary J. Blige - Family Affair

Damiano David - Born With a Broken Heart

SASAMI - Just Be Friends

Pet Shop Boys - Rent

A-ha - Take on Me

Oh my gosh

50/50 chance making it to next round :o

Half the competition culled 😱

EIGHT eliminations, ah well this was fun while it lasted. At least SASAMI will be in good company!

OMFG didn’t expect such a massacre! 🪦

8 ELIMINATIONS???

Voting is going to be fun (and controversial).

OMG the drama that this round is likely to bring.

I think that Rent is probably PSB's best song, but I fear for it in this round 😔

Fifth Harmony getting through is gonna be TOUGH I don't see it 😭 I think WFH is fairly marmite iirc but I don't think anything else would've stood a chance

f*** I am screwed with that song list! 😩

Hey if it’s Enrique doing the screwing I guess I don’t mind so much 🤣

Hi hi, here's my rankses. 01 Best. 16 least good (but still good tbh, this was really hard).

01 The Saturdays - All Fired Up

02 Mary J. Blige - Family Affair

03 Christina Aguilera - Fighter

04 Charlie Puth - How Long

05 Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home

06 Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending

07 Elton John - I’m Still Standing

08 Enrique Iglesias feat. Ciara - Takin’ Back My Love

09 Damiano David - Born With a Broken Heart

10 CHVRCHES - Graves

11 SASAMI - Just Be Friends

12 Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding - Miracle

13 Pet Shop Boys - Rent

14 James Blake - Loading

15 A-ha - Take on Me

16 Addison Rae - Times Like These

This is absolutely diabolical! 8 eliminations!? Serial killer Calum! 😭

Well I knew I needed a miracle this round, so that's what I've got. I don't think it will be enough though.

omg this was brutal and very hard to rank, but here they are...legit songs 1-5 are all 1's depending on a day, so good luck to everyone <3:

01 Mary J. Blige - Family Affair

02 Pet Shop Boys - Rent

03 Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending

04 Elton John - I’m Still Standing

05 A-ha - Take on Me

06 Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding - Miracle

07 Enrique Iglesias feat. Ciara - Takin’ Back My Love

08 Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home

09 Damiano David - Born With a Broken Heart

10 James Blake - Loading

11 SASAMI - Just Be Friends

12 Addison Rae - Times Like These

13 CHVRCHES - Graves

14 The Saturdays - All Fired Up

15 Charlie Puth - How Long

And it's time to finally reveal myself, removing my mask:

I know I hid it so well and you're all shocked etc. etc.

57 minutes ago, Calum said:

Is Enrique gonna be there!? 😋

This is going to be brutal - some acts bringing their best just at the right time I see. Good luck all!

1. Christina Aguilera - Fighter

2. Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding - Miracle

3. Elton John - I’m Still Standing (to be removed as it is my own)

4. A-ha - Take on Me

5. Enrique Iglesias feat. Ciara - Takin’ Back My Love

6. Mary J. Blige - Family Affair

7. Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending

8. Pet Shop Boys - Rent

9. The Saturdays - All Fired Up

10. Addison Rae - Times Like These

11. CHVRCHES - Graves

12. Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home

13. Charlie Puth - How Long

14. Damiano David - Born With a Broken Heart

15. James Blake - Loading

16. SASAMI - Just Be Friends

Jesus that was LETHAL! 1-8 are all top tier faves for me!

6 minutes ago, Spiceboy said:

14. Damiano David - Born With a Broken Heart

Actually never mind horny jail, just go to actual jail xx

WOW a culling this round indeed !