X Factor: Er, Haven't We Seen You Before?

Has the X Factor exhausted the talent pool for contestants? We ask this question because the amount of returnees to the X Factor in 2013 seems to be huge. In the three weeks of being back on our screens there has been countless occasions where it has been reminded to us that a particular singer had already auditioned.

Amy Motram, Jade Richards, Melanie McCabe, Stephanie Woods, Dolly Rockers, all hopefuls for 2013 and all names that have sang in front of those judges before. But have they really gone away and perfected their performance or are the X Factor's producers now just scraping the barrel of talent?

Perhaps before casting aspersions though it should be a case of looking on an individual basis. Take Stephanie Woods for example, she was just 14 when when she first auditioned, perhaps too young to be in such a competition, but first time round she did make it to the Judges' House stage of the competition. Now 20 though, she's back and wowing the judges, receiving a unanimous "yes" to put her through to the arena auditions. She even reduced former mentor Sharon Osbourne to tears! Perhaps Stephanie summed up her return to the competition best, she told the judges "I've said if I don't get through today or this year then it's not meant to be but I want it so bad now, I'm so ready".

But on the other hand let's look at Jade Richards. Now 23, and four stone lighter, Jade is hoping for third time lucky in 2013. But what with her weight loss, does Jade think that it was her image that was the cause of her failure in 2011 and 2012?

She was originally ditched from the show at the Judges' House stage in 2011 by Kelly Rowland but after a return to the show last year she didn't even make it past Boot Camp. Now after following a strict exercise and healthy eating regime she is back, complete with long sleek extensions in place of her jet black frizzy hair. Her new look was welcomed by the judges though, who hardly even recognised her, but perhaps it is more marketable?

Jade's reasons for returning are clear, "I worked at a supermarket for a wee while and everybody that came told me to come back," she told the panel. "The more and more people said that, the more I thought, 'that's what I should do'."

It's not just individuals making the return either, groups are doing it too. This year's X Factor has seen the return of Dolly Rockers who previously competed in the third series of X Factor back in 2006. The girl group, complete with a line-up change weren't so successful however with the judges sending them home after their arena audition last week. Maybe the Dolly Rockers are an example to others wishing to try their luck in the competition once again? Perhaps the Dolly Rockers, who have had minor hits with their singles, "Je Suis Une Dolly" and "Gold Digger", and perhaps even other acts, should accept the X Factor is not the competition for them?