MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday 13 May, 2013
The Polls Are Open - Voting for the X Factor NZ Wildcard Closes 12 Noon, Tuesday 14 May
TV3 announced tonight that a Wildcard act will join The X Factor NZ Top 12 – chosen by public vote from four contestants Fletcher Mills, Aotea Beazley, Grace Ikenasio and TYP.
The Top 12 contestants for the Live Shows were announced in tonight’s episode which saw Judges Melanie Blatt, Daniel
Bedingfield, Ruby Frost and Stan Walker each pick their final three acts for the competition. The X Factor NZ Top 12 are: Benny Tipene, Tom Batchelor, Whenua Patuwai, Cassie Henderson, Eden Roberts, Jackie Thomas, Anna Wilson,
Maaka Fise, Taye Williams, Gap 5, L.O.V.E. and Moorhouse.
In a surprise twist, the producers revealed a 13th place in the competition – a Wildcard decided by public vote, who
will be thrown a lifeline and go through to Live Shows with the Top 12. Each Judge was asked to nominate a candidate
from their Judges’ Retreat who had not been successful. The public have until 12noon on Tuesday to vote via text or
Facebook to keep one of the following in the competition.
FLETCHER MILLS
Boys - Mentor Ruby Frost
A 17-year-old classical music student originally from
Wellington, now living in Auckland.
To vote for Fletcher
Text FLETCHER to 3999 (texts cost 99c)
or visit TV3.co.nz/xfactornz to vote for free
AOTEA BEAZLEY
Girls – Mentor Daniel Bedingtield
A 21-year-old postie from Auckland.
To vote for Aotea
Text AOTEA to 3999 (texts cost 99c)
or visit TV3.co.nz/xfactornz to vote for free
GRACE IKENASIO
Overs 25s – Mentor Stan Walker
A 25-year-old from Auckland who won her way to
Judges’ Retreats via The Edge Fast Ford to Boot Camp
romotion.
To vote for Grace
Text GRACE to 3999 (texts cost 99c)
or visit TV3.co.nz/xfactornz to vote for free
TYP
Groups – Mentor Melanie Blatt
Cameron (14) Peniamina (14) and Sam (15) were
created as a group during Bootcamp
To vote for TYP
Text TYP to 3999 (texts cost 99c)
or visit TV3.co.nz/xfactornz to vote for free
For full details on how to vote visit TV3.co.nz/xfactornz.
Wildcard voting closes at 12noon, Tuesday 14 May, and the Wildcard will be announced during the first Performance Show,
broadcast LIVE on TV3 at 7pm, Sunday 19 May.
HOW TO VOTE
Full details on how the public can vote for their favourite Wildcard contestant are at TV3.co.nz. Votes can be cast via
text (at a cost of 99c) or for free on Facebook.
To vote via text, simply text FLETCHER, AOTEA, GRACE or TYP to 3999.
To vote via Facebook, visit TV3.co.nz/xfactornz and click the ‘vote now’ button
Wildcard voting closes at 12noon on Tuesday 14 May.
- ends -
The X Factor NZ on TV3
Sundays at 7pm and Mondays at 7.30pm
ABOUT THE X FACTOR
Hosted by Dominic Bowden, with Melanie Blatt, Daniel Bedingfield, Stan Walker and Ruby Frost as the four-strong judging
panel, The X Factor NZ is the first local version of the global television phenomenon format put on the map by music mogul Simon Cowell.
The X Factor NZ is open to singers of aged 14 and up, either solo performers or groups. Contestants who make it through are split into
one of four categories – Boys under 25, Girls under 25, Over 25s and Groups. Each category is mentored by one of the
four judges.
At stake is the much coveted title of the winner of The X Factor NZ, a recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment New Zealand and the chance to drive away in the All-New 2013 Ford
Kuga.
The X Factor NZ is a SYCO owned format and is co-produced by MediaWorks and FremantleMedia Australia. Ford New Zealand
is the Broadcast Sponsor, with McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Samsung as programme partners. NZ on Air is a minority funder of
the show.
Join the conversation online via Twitter on the hashtag #xfactornz or via the official The X Factor NZ Facebook page facebook.com/xfactornz.