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Simon Cowell tried to stop Lloyd in X Factor sing-off
By London Lite Last updated at 13:33pm on 02.11.09Simon Cowell tried to cut short Lloyd Daniels's performance last night as the 16-year-old hopeful struggled with a hoarse throat. The X Factor guru made a throat-cutting gesture to the producer as Lloyd sang You Are So Beautiful in the sing-off between the bottom two contestants.
Show musn't go on: Simon Cowell, left, and Lloyd and Rachel holding hands
The Welsh teen had a sore throat and his voice cracked throughout the song. He shook his head in embarrassment when he missed a high note at the end.
Nanny and Dannii: judge Dannii Minogue was joined by her neighbour for the results show
Our spy said: “It was uncomfortable to watch, and Simon must have wanted to end his torment as he made the finger-across-the-throat gesture. Luckily for Lloyd, the show went on and he stayed in.”
Lloyd was saved by the judges, who instead sent home a clearly upset Rachel Adedeji after her moving rendition of the Oasis hit Stop Crying Your Heart Out.
It must have been a bittersweet feeling for Lloyd — staying in the competition but beating Rachel. The pair have become close and were spotted holding hands as they arrived at the X Factor house last night.
Lloyd said after his close call: “My throat started about four days ago, but got worse yesterday. I had a feeling all day that I was going to be in the last two.”
The heartthrob — whose army of young female fans really need to start picking up the phone and voting for him — admitted he thought he got by because of his cute looks “only because there is so much talent [in the competition] this year”.
Whether he has a sore throat or not, Louis Walsh had a fairly dire prognosis for Lloyd's future career, saying last night: “I don't think he has got a chance as a solo artist.”
Dannii, who was joined by her elderly neighbour last night, expressed her dismay that twins John and Edward stayed in the competition and her act Rachel went home.
She said: “I used to think X Factor' meant an amazing singer and personality and performance, but I'm beginning to think that's not about the singing with the acts that are left.”
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Reader views (19)
i don't know whats up with simon nowadays, did he do it to please cheryl? i think thats the case the decision was meant to be based on their final performances and rachel OBVIOUSLY did a better job and yet he didn't put rachel through.......there was NO need for deadlock!
- Vinni, london, england
The blame has to be placed squarely with Louis Walsh. He is supposed to be a professional and knows what the show is all about and jet he selected these boys to go to the live show knowing that they could not sing. This is obviously a case of either them being Irish or he is doing a favour for somebody.
- Irene Chapple, france
I agree with most comments above too. I dont think the public should vote they do not seem to know talent when they see it. But i dont think there is much talent in this lot anyway! As with strictly come dancing. The public voted 2 good dancers out this week! They are the people who are just voting for the personality in their soaps etc that they like its rediculous. Whats the point of the competition if they are not voting for the talent. Let the judges vote have more judges.
- V, midhurst west sussex
With the American accents John and Edward could do a cool rap.
- Carrie, London
this programme has nothing to do with music in any shape or form.
- Al Stuart, ealing
i am equally highly dissapionted , i thought the show was about talent and who could sing, seeing miss frank leave last week pained me , now is it racheal, some people who can not sing are still there, i think the judges should be real and choose the best act to stay no matter the color , sex or background , its all about giving people a chance in life. just look at Dannyl, what has he done to deserve so much hatred by the press, anyway those ones have to sell thier papers so they dont care who gets the back stabbing . some one has got be their scape goat. X factor should be stopped, if the right persons dont get voted for
- Eve Richard, linconshire
In music there is always a backlash against the mainstream. Surely Jedward are the modern day equivalent of the punks like The Clash and the Sex Pistols? Destroy!
- Jethro Penzance, Bodmin
I think Simon made the right decision on last nights show it should defiantly have gone to deadlock to have let the public have the last say, as Rachel may have been a good singer but as it was the third time she was in the bottom two it was quite obvious the public did not get her and she need to go
- Lisa D, melton mowbray
I find it amazing how quick everyone faults the judges about who is remaining and who is out. At the end of the day it is because of the public why the results are what they are. If people are so gutted that Rachel went why the hell did she get to the bottom two three times. People like you lot not voting for her thats why!! I personally did not rate Rachel that much but that is my opinion and why I never voted for her. As for John and Edward, who is voting for these guys? I am sick of the constant moaning from people about this - simple, if you are that sick of it dont watch it! If you think there is something more entertaining to watch , watch it but stop the whinging. Our society seems to do nothing but whinge, moan, gripe and slag others off!
- Emma, Birmingham
It would seem that the 'John Seargent Factor' may damage the limited credibility this programme has.
If the intention of the X factor is to find the best singer(s) then clearly, the concept is seriously flawed as if the voting trend is actually to be believed, we either have a nation full of idiots voting for the two clowns of the show for all of the wrong reasons or it could be just me not appreciating their 'talent'.
I also believe the show should either allow contestants to be voted throught ENTIRELY on viewers votes alone with the one with the least votes being eliminated - surely that is the point of voting?
The current format allows 'judges' to go against the voters choice, although I am very sceptical that the show is actually being truthful with the votes cast anyway.
Anyway, history of the 'losers' of this show have proved that they can turn out to be a bigger success than the victors, however, I strongly suspect that this will not be the case with John and Edward!
- David Passmore, Belmont Durham
J & E aren't a 'group ' any more than The Two Ronnies or Lucas & Walliams are.
They're a duo. Maybe no one on the show has heard of the term.
I am a little slow on the uptake, but I just realised I am now spending my Saturday and Sunday nights watching mediocre amateur singers, some of whom are truily appalling, singing 2 minute versions of songs.
Just a few years back, I used to watch tv shows that featured wall-to-wall professional entertainers who sang an entire song all the way through - and sometimes sang more than one. It seems like a lost art.
No one in the studio audienced ' whooped and hollered and screamed and applauded' whenever a singer hit a particularly high note or managed a key change - because it was expected of them !
Is that progress>?
- Jargonaut, South London
I think the x factor has become a huge joke, John and Edward are the biggest jokes of all. They're obviously quite happy to be on National television and make complete and utter prats of themselves.
After Saturdays farse I will no longer be watching it
Its not Simon that needs to leave the country, its John and Edward, maybe some desolate island somewhere they can cattawail to there hearts content and no one has to suffer them...
- Vicki, Northampton
Thereis little doubt that Rachel sang better than the clearly sick and hoarse Lloyd last night. But the public preferred Lloyd who sang far better on Saturday's show. Rachel and Jedward deserve to be hoisted off.
- Keith Price, Luton England
Simon Cowel is always rattling on about the X Factor being a singing competition and I have admired him for that. He has always appeared to be honest, loyal, upstanding and a man who we could trust. But at the very time when he should have stuck to his principles and displayed his honesty, he failed. He knows Rachel Adedeji is the better singer. It is obvious to all that Lloyd Daniels does not compare in any way. Lloyd was under the weather, but that is not the point, the decision should have been based on past performances. It's a singing contest - isn't it?
- Onepalelight, penn, Buckinghamshire
Simon Cowell wanted to cut short Lloyd Daniels performance because he knew that if Lloyd continued to perform so badly there was no way he could realistically be saved from the chop, especially after Rachel's rousing performance.
Cowell knows that he can sell Lloyd Daniels as an artist. He knows that teenage girls will waste their money on his music, regardless of a how bad a performer he actually is. So he was desperate to keep Lloyd on the show; proven by his decision not to vote him off at the end of the show.
If he was judging Lloyd and Rachel solely on their voices and performances it was no contest, Lloyd should've gone. But Simon is a businessman, so he saved Lloyd to keep all the teenage girls tuning in.
Thus he has once again undermined his own show and proven that it's not a singing contest, it's not a talent show, it's a cash cow and anybody who thinks it is a legitimate music contest needs to wake up and smell the coffee.
The sooner this show is off the airwaves the better, because it's getting embarrassingly obvious it's about money and nothing else.
- Danni, London
john and edward are a joke there were much bertter groups. as usual louis left his hearing aid off when he was listening to put groups through. he should be sacked for putting pathetic duo through.
- Ray, stockton on tees
With John and Edward clearly forging on to win it, with the backing of the millions pf peoplewho detest Simon Cowell, and his band of mediocre male crooners, and everything he stands for, it seems that 2009 will be the last X Factor. Imagine that Cheryl Cole's album, which she herself admitted is second-rate, id top of the album charts on the back of the publicity Cowell has given her, it is making a travesty of real music
- Keith Price, Luton England
Of course it's not about the singing. Who wants another carbon copy wailing banshee winner anyway. Jedwood all the way!!
- Sarah Y, Oxon, UK
Simon is upset that people are voting for John & Edward as he always goes on about it being a singing competition. If that was the case why didn't he put through Rachel instead of going to vote and letting Lloyd through. Rachel has a much better voice then Lloyd. Based on last night's decision I hope John & Edward do win as the show is a joke!
- Claire, London
