The X Factor Semi-final

Brenda voted out

Brenda was bottom of the poll in the semi-final and was sent home.

Andy, Journey South and Shayne will compete in The X Factor final.

There had been over 3 million votes in the semi-final and at one time during the evening there had been only 24 votes between the bottom two acts.

During the main show, all four acts chose safe songs playing to their strengths - but which made the semi-final somewhat predictable.

Shayne was suffering from a serious infection which had affected his voice. He ditched a Queen song on the day before the final and had to prepare If Tomorrow Never Comes rather quickly.

Shayne's song choices may well have improved his chances. Unchained Melody was the best performance of the evening and ensured he would get through to the final.

Both Andy and Brenda stepped down into the audience during their first song. Andy dragged his kids to sit on a bench with him. They look very self-conscious and were very relieved when he let them go back to their seats.

Brenda spotted an unsuspecting guy in a black shirt clapping to the beat. She tugged his shirt towards her while continuing to belt out Respect and then forcefully shoved him away. He looked scared out of his mind. Not much respect there Brenda.

Carl did not play the electric guitar yet again. He had only carried it on stage twice during the series and had probably played it for less than than 60 seconds. He is one of the best rock guitarists in the country and it was a mistake to ignore that talent in favour of the London busker style.

Sharon asked Simon to change the rules so that all the four remaining acts could compete in the final. Let's hope she doesn't get to choose the rules in The X Factor or any other competitions.

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The songs performed were:

Andy: Everything I Do - Bryan Adams
Journey South: You're In My Heart - Rod Stewart
Brenda: Respect - Aretha Franklin
Shayne: If Tomorrow Never Comes - Ronan Keating
Andy: Lately - Stevie Wonder
Journey South: Let It Be - The Beatles
Brenda: Without You - Badfinger/Nilsson/Mariah Carey
Shayne: Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers

Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Andy all looked gobsmacked when Kate announced the first act through to the final, Andy. They had not been expecting to hear that news.

The producers then ensured that Shayne was the next act to be announced leaving Simon to sweat wondering whether his only remaining act would be sent home. However, Journey South were also through.

As Simon walked off the stage his mouth was wide open in disbelief.

Brenda then sang in The X Factor for the last time. Louis looked genuinely distraught to see Brenda's final performance.

Later on, Sharon Osbourne revealed that Brenda had been approached for roles in two musicals, so we have not heard the last of The X Factor's soul diva - or her cackle.

Brenda thought she knew shy she had been voted out, complaing: "It's definitely to do with there being so many women fans.

"You have a lot of cute young guys and they are far more likely to be voted for. That's just the way it is so I wasn't surprised I went out."

Louis Walsh quits X Factor?

Within 24 hours of the story breaking that Louis Walsh had quit, BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat reported that he has texted them to say he hopes to be back on The X Factor on Saturday.

The Daily Mirror reported that Louis Walsh had been lured back to The X Factor - but only on the condition he can quit at the end of this series.

It said that Louis is still far from happy and Simon Cowell will release him from a clause in his contract tying him to a third series of the show.

The Sun and the Daily Mirror had both reported that Louis Walsh walked out of The X Factor.

Sharon poured water over Louis on the previous show and Simon insulted him since then.

Louis had only one act left in The X Factor, Shayne Ward. His other three acts had been voted off in the last four shows.

Louis Walsh "quit" The X Factor after Simon Cowell called him stupid on This Morning.

Simon told the ITV1 show that he was considering replacing Louis on the show, saying: "The real trouble is finding somebody bland enough to replace Louis. Where do you start?

"It's hard being stupid. It's definitely not as easy as it looks. But Louis does it brilliantly."

Simon also insulted Louis in The Sun. He said: "Louis is an idiot. He has been tremendously stupid."

Louis said: "I am constantly humiliated and undermined. I've had enough.

“I watched Simon on This Morning ridicule me as a person and a manager. I won’t play these silly games.”

Simon said he couldn't understand Louis's decision to leave when the programme is doing so well in the ratings.

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Louis later revealed: "It was very dangerous what Sharon did. My screen in front of me went off. That means there was water in it. There was an awful lot more water than people think.

"But what could I do? I wasn't going to hit Sharon on TV or do anything naughty."

Louis finally did return to the next show.