After receiving the lowest amount of public votes on X Factor, Italian hopeful Nicolo Festa, 21, was automatically eliminated while boy band FYD were voted off by the judges after a sing-off with Katie Waissel.

Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell backed their own acts in the sing-off vote Sunday (October 10), but both Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh decided to keep Waissel, even though Minogue described the 24-year-old as being “more style than substance”.

Waissel was overjoyed to remain on the programme, despite protests over her position on the X Factor after revealing she has a US recording contract and breaking down during her performance in front of Cheryl Cole.

For the sing-off, FYD performed a rendition of Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music”, while Waissel chose The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down”.

Cowell offered his rejected act some words of encouragement: “You've got to pick yourself up, use the exposure well and show you've got what it takes - I believe in you guys."

Sunday’s show also featured performances from Usher and last year’s X Factor champ, Joe McElderry, who showcased his new single “Ambitions”.

See Katie Waissel’s sing-off winning performance: