THERE’S a new cliché in the X Factor this year – the Judges’ Standing Ovation.

It’s been creeping in for the past couple of series, but now, it seems there are rules.

Whenever an act is facing a “song for survival”, at the end their judge must leap to his or her feet and applaud as if they’ve just encored at Wembley.

If a big name act (or even the Black-Eyed Peas) is gracing the show with both credibility and their presence, then all four judges must stand and clap wildly.

And if an alumni of the show returns to plug their new single, then again all four must take to their feet, not just applauding but grinning with a maniacal yet parental pride.

I mention this because this week saw the return of that other great X Factor cliché – the Emergency Gospel Choir.

This only manifests itself when Simon thinks one of his acts needs a boost, and Danyl was the anointed one this week, his We Are the Champions getting a choral boost. A difficult song not to shout, and he’s starting to look a good bet for winner, especially if he is indeed Simon’s Chosen One.

Of course, my early tip for the victor has now gone, Jamie Archer never really hitting his stride. Louis Walsh, clearly no fan of the Archers, gave Simon a much-needed object lesson in getting rid of a disliked act, by pointedly refusing to clap Jamie’s final song, and actually voting for the other guy.

Since the “other guy” was insipid singing haircut Lloyd Daniels, it was quite some snub. Apparently Lloyd has “more potential”, which is true: where he’s starting from, the only way is up. I doubt very much that he’ll still be around in December, though.

Maybe what Lloyd needs is an identical twin who also can’t sing very well, because John and Edward have definitely won me over despite their obvious shortcomings.

Their bizarre mash-up of Vanilla Ice and Queen was quite the most entertaining part of Saturday’s contest. I swear there were bits that were almost in tune. I think.

And they were even quite professional when their act was invaded by some minor celebrity wielding a pineapple and looking to get a bit of publicity (it didn’t really work – I’ve already forgotten who he was).

The X Factor is nothing if not cost-efficient, and Joe McElderry was the other beneficiary of that choir. He’s got a bit bland, though, as if the X Factor stylists have knocked all the rough edges off him and taken a lot of character with it.

I’m starting to root for an all-Essex final, though. Stacey Solomon pulled off a fabulous rendition of Who Wants to Live Forever, even if her “image” is still all over the place.

And Olly Murs showed the Grimes boys how dance routines should be done with a very entertaining Don’t Stop Me Now.

It was tough on Jamie, who was given a dubious song (who would put Radio Ga-Ga as their favourite Queen track? Really?) and the “curse” of going first.

Still, if Queen have taught us anything, it’s this – the show must go on. Even if a man with a pineapple on his head tries to tell you otherwise.