'X Factor' 2016: Judges' Houses Snaps Revealed, With Wildcard Acts Joining Remaining Hopefuls (PICS)

‘X Factor’ fans don’t have long to wait until Judges Houses’. Y’know, the stage where the remaining 28 acts hop on a plane, to a mystery location that the judges are going to pretend they live in for reasons we still don’t understand, 13 years in.

Yes, the infuriating Six Chair Challenge is behind us for another year, and the next stage is now looming, and ahead of it, we’ve been treated to some behind-the-scenes snaps of the acts enjoying some fun in the sun as they await their fate (who doesn’t love an ‘X Factor’ double rhyme, eh?).

Although the nature of the Six Chair Challenge would suggest that the judges end up with six acts each, they’ve since each been allocated an additional wildcard contestant, so there are seven hopefuls in each category heading to exotic locations around the globe.

Nicole Scherzinger’s remaining boys headed to the South of France, where they were photographed larking about in the sea in pictures so lovely, you’d think a photographer was telling them what to do.

Meanwhile, Sharon Osbourne’s over 25s flew out to Los Angeles, where they each performed for her and Robbie Williams.

Simon Cowell was joined by Mel B and Emma Bunton, who looked like they were thoroughly enjoying themselves in Malibu, while Louis Walsh got a bit of help from Alesha Dixon and Fleur East.

Louis is mentoring the groups again this year, including Ottavio and Bradley, who don’t look like they’re dialling down the drama at this stage in the game, judging from these photos of them by a pool which, again, we’re guessing was totally natural and not put on for the nearby cameras.

‘The X Factor’ returns to our screens on Saturday (1 October), but if you can’t wait until then, check out some more pics from Judges’ Houses in the gallery below...