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X Factor judges will be sending their own acts home this weekend with four due to leave on Sunday night.

Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh, Tulisa Contostavlos and Kelly Rowland will be forced to vote off one of their own artists or groups.

Producers promised a twist to start the live segment of the series to keep the show "fresh".

It means there will be no public vote to decide the contestants who are sent home this weekend.

Instead, each judge will put three of their four acts through to next week's show.

The contestants were informed on Thursday with judges saying it was to make sure they were up the task of performing on a stage.

The show's producers say they hope the twist will encourage the acts to "step up a gear during the live shows".

Gary Barlow told the contestants: "There's going to be no public vote, instead each judge must vote off one of their acts.

"This is the X Factor stage. It's one thing singing by the pool but it all changes here.

"This is where stars are born, like Leona [Lewis]. It's all going to feel very different on Saturday."

Tulisa Contostavlos from N-Dubz assured them that they would be watching even more closely.

She said: "Please understand all of you that none of us have made our decision.

"It's a clean slate and we are making our decision as if we have never seen you before."

This week's theme is UK v US with the guest artists confirmed as last year's winner Matt Cardle and Cee Lo Green.

The acts will be seen in the first live show of the series on ITV1 at 7.30pm on Saturday 8 October and at 8pm on Sunday 9 October.