Egypt’s X Factor contestants enter boot camp

Contestants on Egypt’s X Factor show have reached the bootcamp stage and will now begin rigorous training in preparation of the upcoming playoffs. There is currently strong competition between the Judges Elissa, Hussein Al Jasmi, Wael Kfoury and Carole Samaha, who all want their favourites to make it through the elimination rounds. Over the next two days 81 contestants will be training hard to ensure that they are one of the six talents who will make it through to the next round. The fifth episode of the programme will decide which category each judge is awarded. The groups include girls aged between 16 to 25, boys aged between 16 to 25, the over 25s and bands. Each judge will then have to mentor their contestants to make it through the competition, with the hope of winning it. The judge can also bring in key figure in the industry to help them choose who goes through to the next round. Elissa invited Lebanese director Salim Turk and Egyptian composer Mohamed Yahya to help her decide, while Hussein Al Jasmi teamed up with Egyptian composer Walid Saad and Egyptian director Ahmed Mahdi. Wael Kfoury chose Lebanese composer Bilal Zein, and the Egyptian composer Mahmoud Khayami, while composer Mohamed Rahim and Media expert Hadchiti Millad joined Carole Samaha at the show’s boot camp. This year’s winner of the X Factor in Egypt will receive a recording contract with the Rotana company- a branch of Sony Music. They will also be the next face of Pepsi’s new ad campaign.