A voting error means that this year's X Factor USA finalists will have to perform again this week in an effort to stay in the competition.

Thirteen contestants took to the stage last night (November 6) but the programme's public voting went wrong due to erroneous numbers displayed on screen.

This means that the show's schedule has been altered, with all the acts due to sing their 'second chance' songs tonight (November 7). Voting will then open and the results will be aired on Wednesday (November 13).

The show will then resume its original schedule, with another act going home on the Thursday episode (November 14).

Tweeting about the error, Simon Cowell said: "A lot of you noticed there were some problems with the voting numbers at the end of the show tonight...you were right! There was an issue so everyone has to sing their save me song live tomorrow and America will vote on that performance."

He added: "Mistakes happen. But now I have 24 hours to prepare my groups for tomorrow night. Let's hope they all deliver. It's happened once before. It's live tv. You have to deal with it, tough for the contestants though. But you have to dig deep and deliver."

This year's X Factor USA sees returning judges Cowell and Demi Lovato joined by newbies Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio.