X-Factor / Mike Norman / 09 October 2011 / 10

The X Factor became the aXe Factor this evening as each of the four mentors sent home one of their acts. Mike Normans tells us who went and who stayed.

'; echo showAtTime($entry_body); ?>
It was billed as a big twist, but it turned out to be a big disappointment for four acts as each mentor painfully sent home one of their own artists.

For Jonjo Kerr, James Michael, and 2 Shoes their exits came as little surprise given their performances on Saturday night and/or their odds in the Winner market beforehand, but for Amelia Lily her exit is a huge loss to this year\'s competition and I\'m not sure the X Factor producers have got this one right. I\'ll write more on that tomorrow though.

Lily - who was matched at a low of [4.3] in the Winner market - sang brilliantly on Saturday night, but so too did her fellow Girls category members Janet Devlin, Misha Bryan, and Sophie Habibis leaving mentor Kelly Rowland with an almost impossible decision to make. Rowland was understandably upset at having to send a potential winner home so early but she can take comfort from the knowledge that she has three fantastic girls - each capable of winning - still in the competition.

Lily was matched at [10.0] in the First Elimination Girls market, whilst Kelly Rowland remains the strong [1.55] favourite in the Winning Mentor market

Gary Barlow\'s decision to send home James Michael was a relatively easy one to make after the 20-year-old Cheshire lad failed to impress during his rendition of the Beatles\' classic Ticket to Ride. Michael was matched at a high of [2.04] in the First Elimination Male market prior to his performance, but at a low of just [1.1] after.

Louis Walsh also had a straightforward decision to make with Jonjo Kerr arguably being the worst performer on the night and matched at a low of just [1.14] in the First Elimination Over 25s market after his poor showing, whilst Tulisa Contostavlos\' decision to send home 2 Shoes ([1.2]) also appeared the right choice.

It means that 12 acts remain in the competition with Janet Devlin heading the Winner market at [4.0], ahead of Misha Bryan ([5.4]), and two of Saturday\'s best performers The Risk ([6.8]) and Craig Colton ([7.6]).

Star Predictor

So with just 12 acts remaining what does the Betfair market say? For the latest odds on the winner and next elimination markets check out our shiny new X-Factor Star Predictor...

'; echo showAtTime($entry_more); ?> '.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

(10)

1. clement | 09 October 2011

   Based on last Night's performance, kelly rowland was right

2. Ruby-Aspie | 09 October 2011

   NO...kelly was a complete idiot to vote off Amelia Lily, she was the only one in my perspective to have won this competition which has now sharply lost it's credability, I hope this FARCE of a show gets cancelled next year.

3. Anonymous | 09 October 2011

   kelly roland is good performer but lousey judge or maybe she jealous of amelia full stop her disision is final but pathetic

4. Ezme | 10 October 2011

   I thought the girls decision was hardest but I preferred Amelia to sophie

5. Anonymous | 10 October 2011

   I think the Judges are very stupid to send home the very best in Amelia Lily. She will be as great as PINK!

   All these shows are the same, they send home the best and keep the crap for show.

   I would like to buy Amelia Lily CD right Now. Her son Billy Jean was better than Michael Jason.

   Come on has anyone have ears for good music today?

6. sam | 10 October 2011

   Amelia was out of tune and flat, the right person definitely went home. If you compare her to the other three girls, she was out of her league.
   

7. Anonymous | 10 October 2011

   Kelly was blackmailed into sending Amilia home by Gary his words you send home Sophie and I will leave tomorrow, Totally uneceptable!!!! Its a fiddle I am very upset for Amilia I think she could have won 2011.

8. Anonymous | 10 October 2011

   Totally agree with sam, Amelia's performance wasn't good enough on the night, it was flat and the other 3 girls were much better, don't know how you can say she sang brilliantly, she sounded terrible. No way were Janet or Misha going home, and Sophie was also good. Amelia is only 16 she has plenty of time to comeback, but now is just not her time and the correct decision was made.

9. Mike Norman | 10 October 2011

   Guys and girls, first of all thank you for all your comments, they're much appreciated.

   But let me point out that I've never once said that Kelly Rowland made the wrong choice, I actually believe she made the right choice, and having backed Sophie to win, I was delighted that Amelia went ahead of Sophie.

   What I did hint at however is that the decision by the X Factor producers to force Kelly (and the other judges) to sacrifice one of their acts so early was the wrong choice.

   Kelly made the right choice on the night, and so did the other three judges, but Amelia's exit is definitely a loss to the show.

   I've had a more in-depth say on this topic in my latest blog which you can read here;

   https://betting.betfair.com/specials/

10. ick | 13 October 2011

    amelia was not the best singer on the night, people need to judge with their ears not their eyes, sadly though thats what has become of pop music, its also a fashion parade and beauty contest

:

:

:

?

: