The throaty blues singer, originally from Cathcart in Glasgow but now living in London, was told by mentor Gary Barlow that she had made it to his last three on Sunday’s show.
The music teacher and mum-of-two will now be appearing live from Saturday night.
Melanie, 44, began singing in bands when she was 15 and has worked as a session vocalist with groups including Kasabian, Fat Boy Slim and Stereophonics for 15 years. She was also briefly signed to record label EMI and released a single in 2007.
However, she put her career on hold to look after her two young children, Rua, 5, and Ramsay, 3, and now hopes the live shows will give her the big break she’s always dreamed of.
She said: “Thanks to my husband I’ve been so lucky to be able to be a full time mummy for all their pre-school years and more, but I now want to make them proud of me and see me singing on a big stage....I want to win for everyone my age who feels their dream is over."
Melanie goes by the nickname of Fairy because she runs a weekly music class for toddlers called Fairy Flutterby’s Little Rock-a-byes.
She said if she wins she will celebrate by buying a camper van and taking her family around Scotland.
Forbes Masson linked up with Alan Cumming to create comedy double act Victor and Barry, the trendy thespians from Kelvinside. They then wrote and starred in the 1990s TV cult show The High Life, which also featured Siobhan Redmond.
More recently, Forbes has gone on to have a career in theatre, appearing in the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2003 to 2011. He is an artistic associate of The National Theatre of Scotland, has written and composed a series of Scottish musicals, and also wrote alternative Christmas pantomimes for Glasgow’s Tron Theatre.
The 11 contestants Melanie is up against are:
OVERS CATEGORY
Carolynne Poole
Age: 32
From: Huddersfield
It is second time lucky for Carolynne after she lost out at the judges houses section last year and she is determined to make up for that failure.
She said: "Last year was my nightmare year, probably the worst year of my life. I know what it feels like to get a no, and I know what it feels like to watch the show knowing that you could have been a part of it. It means the world for me to be here again."
Carolynne, who said she will bring "girly glamour and giggles" to this year's show, wants to win for her parents. She said: "I'd like to pay off my mum and dad's mortgage as they mortgaged their house for me when I was 20 to help fund my move to London and help me pursue my career. I owe them everything."
Kye Sones
Age: 30
From: Pinner, London
Singer-songwriter Kye has been working for his uncle's business as a chimney sweep for the past few years but has never given up on music.
He said: "One day I was covered in soot and the next day I was walking onto a stage in front of thousands of people. Being able to sing and be judged on nothing but your vocals and your ability was just amazing.
"The audience are the ones who determine whether they like you or not; not a guy in an office. Every day there has been a totally new experience for me, sometimes it's scary but it's amazing at the same time."
Kye said if he wins he will take his mother on holiday because she has supported him "every step of the way over the past ten years". He said: "She's felt all the disappointment I have felt, if not more. I owe it to her after all I've put her through."
BOYS
James Arthur
Age: 23
From: Middlesbrough
James writes his own songs, raps and plays the guitar, but only applied for the show after a friend encouraged him to do it.
But he has lost the nerves as the show has gone on and is looking forward to the live shows.
He said: "I can't wait, none of the judges scare me. At the moment I'm fearless in that respect." He has promised to bring "versatility, passion and raw emotion" to the show.
The tattooed singer said his song-writing skills could help him win though he has also impressed with his take on a series of cover versions - including Tulisa's song Young.
Rylan Clark
Age: 23
From: Essex
The party-loving clubber has promised to "bring the X to the X Factor" and wants to record dancefloor anthems.
Rylan has been very impressed with his mentor Nicole Scherzinger who he described as "amazing". He said: "She's the most stunning woman I've ever met in my life. I even questioned my sexuality when I met her. She's so amazing and we're so on the same level idea wise it's unreal, she's such an asset to me and I hold her very dear."
If he wins he will celebrate in low-key style - with a milky coffee - after he stopped drinking them when he was told they were bad for his throat.
Jahmene Douglas
Age: 22
From: Swindon
The supermarket worker turned singer wowed the judges in the very first show with his version of At Last by Etta James and says his strong vocals make up for his quiet personality.
He said: "I'm not confident at all with any aspect of myself but singing is my way of expressing myself because talking is not my strong point at all."
Jahmene grew up singing with a choir at his local church and said his love of singing will help him combat any nerves at the live shows.He said: "The judge that scares me most is myself, no one's as hard on me as I am."
GIRLS
Jade Ellis
Age: 25
Location: Charlton, London
The bike mechanic wants to win so she can provide a better life for her six-year-old daughter Caiden - starting with a trip to Disneyland.
She thinks there is a gap in the market for her style of music and says her mentor, Tulisa, can help her fill it.
She said: "I have been really looking forward to getting to know the real her and I feel that I kind of do now. What you see on the TV really is what you get; an honest, straight talking and creative person. As a mentor she has taken the time to come and personally view our rehearsals and has also exchanged numbers with us so that we can contact her with any issues we might have."
But she is worried about how Gary Barlow will judge her because she is such a big fan of the Take That frontman.
She said: "I think Gary will be the scariest to perform for. I admire Gary for various reasons but his song writing really inspires me so to have him really slate something would really hurt."
Ella Henderson
Age: 16
From: Grimsby
The schoolgirl singer-songwriter, who has just finished her GCSEs, admits she is nervous about the live shows but staying positive.
She said: "I'd say I'm filled with excitement and I just feel like the luckiest girl in the world right now."
She impressed the judges with her first audition when she sang a song inspired by her late grandfather and she says she can only get better.
Ella said: "I believe that I have a lot to give and I'm fully dedicated to my music. I know that by doing this show I'm going to grow as a performer and my confidence will build up each week."
Lucy Spraggan
Age: 20
From: Derbyshire, but lives in Sheffield
Lucy caused a storm in her first audition where her performance of her own song, Last Night, got her a standing ovation and has been watched on YouTube more than 11 million times.
She said: "Every step of this process has been so overwhelming for me, from seeing the crowd reaction to my own song through to Tulisa giving me the yes at Judges Houses, and now I just can't wait to show people what I can do on a live platform."
She has been gigging for the last few years as well as holding down different jobs including being a tour guide and a silver service waitress.
GROUPS
GMD3 (Greg, Dan and Mickey)
Age: 18, 19 and 18 respectively
From: Essex, Cleethorpes and Porthcawl originally, but live in Windsor now
The trio are hoping their "unity as a group" pulls them through the live shows. The best mates met at school more than five years ago and have been together ever since.
Mickey said seeing other acts go on from the show and have huge hits inspired them to give it a go. Dan admits they are nervous but said it is not because of the judges, saying: "All of them are absolutely lovely."
MK1 (Charlotte Rundle and Simeon Dixon)
Age: 19 and 24 respectively
From: London
The duo say they are "delivering the underground to the overground" and think the time is right for their mixture of dubstep, pop and hip-hop to be a success.
They auditioned with another friend, Will, but carried on as a duo after the panel said he had to go. But they have stayed friends and Will still shares a flat with Charlotte.
The pair admit to a few nerves ahead of the live shows and want to impress one judge in particular. They said: "The judge that scares us the most is Louis - the last person we want to upset is our mentor."
Union J (Jamie Hamblett (JJ), George Shelley, Josh Cuthbert, Jaymi Hensley)
Age: 24, 19, 20 and 22 respectively
From: Newmarket, Bristol, Ascot and Luton
The foursome, who claim they are "normal down to earth guys who love to sing", started out as a trio.
Jaymi, Josh and JJ auditioned for The X Factor as Triple J and got through to Bootcamp before Louis added 19 year-old George Shelley to the group and they became Union J.
They said: "We're so happy to be a four piece. The group feels so right together, it feels like we've been together for years."
Jaymi said the show has been "a rollercoaster" but their mentor has helped them get through it. He said: "Louis is the king of boybands and we're so grateful to have him as our mentor. Louis has been brilliant; he has made us become stronger as a group and has told us to work that much harder. He has already given us the boost that we needed."
