Dannii out to end Cheryl's X Factor success

Dannii Minogue has been tipped to end Cheryl Cole's two-year winning run on the X Factor after being assigned the 'Boys' category for the 2010 competition.

One of her new charges, Matt Cardle, has been installed as the early favourite by bookmakers after making the biggest impression in the auditions.

This weekend's action saw the 27-year-old painter and decorator from Halstead, Essex making it through to the Judges Houses stage, where he will join up with Dannii in Australia.

Cardle impressed Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger with his rendition of 1957 folk song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, originally written by Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger.

Other notables to make it through included Cher Lloyd and Gamu Nhengu, who will both be mentored by Cheryl in the 'Girls' group.

Meanwhile, Simon will take charge of the groups and Louis has been given the Over-28s.

Dannii has already made stopping Cheryl her number one priority given the Girls Aloud star's recent run of success.

"We are fiercely competitive and I'm sure sparks will by flying again this year," she said.

"It would be completely devastating if anyone won it three years in a row, wouldn't it? If Cheryl gets close to it by the end of the year, we're going to have to band together for sure."