My Night Out at the X Factor UK 2014 Boot Camp Show at the SSE Wembley Arena

Just a note to let you all know that I have been updating this article and there are now some more recent videos that have been added. Enjoy your read!

Photo credit: Denise Larkin
The X Factor stage setting at the SSE Wembley Arena, London

On Saturday, 9^th August, I went to see the X Factor UK 2014 Boot Camp show at the SSE Wembley Arena in London. It was a fantastic night out.

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We arrived at the SSE Wembley Arena early in the day to see the judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Mel B and Louis Walsh along with Dermot O'Leary arriving at the arena. We waved at them and said 'hello' as we stood in a mad crowd of people.

Afterwards, we picked up our tickets and didn't even have to queue up for them, so this was a bonus for us. We were also fortunate that had some great seats. We sat in the front row behind the crowd of the judges. We felt overwhelmed and excited that we were going to be on television along with the judges being not that far away from us.

The Boot camp show was going to be Simon Cowell's group singing, which was the over 25's. We got to see who they were too and I think we might have seen the winner. Of course, that depends on how good the other contestants might be. 

Cheryl Cole had the girls, Mel B had the boys and Louis Walsh had the groups, so that meant Simon Cowell was stuck with the overs, which he wasn't too happy about at the time.

Photo credit: Denise Larkin - The X Factor Boot Camp Stage

During Boot camp, we got to see each of the over 25's sing for the judges. They had to each gain their place on a seat on the stage to get to Judges' houses (Simon Cowell in this case). Simon Cowell found it hard to decide which contestant should get a place in his final six. 

All through this process, I must say that the atmosphere was fantastic and the audience was alive, cheering and shouting to Simon to help him out. It was a fun night! 

During all this, we were being filmed for X Factor UK, which would air on television at the end of August 2014.

Photo credit: Denise Larkin

Photo credit: Denise Larkin

Simon Cowell wanted the audience to help him pick his contestants. My friend and I shouted out who we liked along with the rest of the audience. We took it very seriously and so did Simon Cowell. He listened to all of us. 

At one point, he was very indecisive about two contestants. He liked them both, but only one could go through to Judges' houses. They were each very powerful singers, but very different to one another. 

We were all told at the end not to Tweet or Facebook the last six contestants before the show had been aired on television, but I am sure no one ever listens. I can say now that Ben Haenow, who was the winner of X Factor UK 2014, was there on stage competing for one of those seats.

UPDATE: Listen to Ben Haenow's recent tune that came out in October 2015.

So, we had a fulfilling night and we were glad that we were able to join in the fun of being at the X Factor UK 2014 boot camp show. It was such a laugh to be there and I would definitely like to do it again!

© 2014 Denise Larkin. All Rights Reserved.

Photo credit: Denise Larkin - The X Factor UK 2014 stage

X Factor UK 2014 Boot Camp videos below plus the winner Ben Haenow who I saw on stage at Boot Camp:

Boot Camp: