In this excerpt from the first season of Australia's take on The X Factor, young hopefuls in extremely 2000s fashions move into a pressure cooker stage of the singing competition. Judges Mark Holden and Kate Ceberano are looking to thin their crop of competitors after holding 'masterclasses' – a staple from the original British reality series.

Reflecting a series that was still in its earliest days, the format leans into the high-stakes, make-it-or-break-it tenor of the competition and the music industry at large. Judges also take time to share intimate musings (both to-camera and to the contestants) about their experiences of failure and their personal motivation in pursuing a music career.

Ceberano balances a particularly delicate role as the mentor of the season's youngest competitors (aged 16 to 24; Holden was allocated groups). Amid the stress of upcoming eliminations, the clip shows a lovely moment where the music icon collaborates with her brother Phil Ceberano on an acoustic rendition of ‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’ to reconnect contestants with their love of music and guide their upcoming performances. Her involvement highlights the competition's focus on professional advice, inspiration and the opportunity to connect with Australian industry veterans.

The Australian edition of The X Factor ran for eight seasons from 2005 to 2016. The first season was part of a boom in reality television in the early 2000s, which transformed the enduring talent show format to include more elimination-style gameplay, drama and character growth, and offer candid insight into the lives of the contestants.