Out of tune Jedward run out of luck as they are voted off X Factor

The identical twin brothers, dubbed Jedward, provoked a frenzy among fans with their outrageous dance routines and off-the-wall style.

Simon Cowell called the duo an "unstoppable machine" and mentor Louis Walsh never tired of proclaiming that "the kids love 'em".

Walsh has said the pair could make a splash not just as pop stars but as children's television presenters or in panto. And many fans will be expecting a Christmas single.

The hyper-quiffed identical pop twins came up against Olly Murs in the sing-off.

But their rendition of Boyzone's No Matter What was unusually subdued with no dance routine and no tricks.

Murs, one of the show favourites, said he was "a bit gutted" to be in the bottom two but his polished performance of Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight was too good for the brothers.

His fans will nevertheless have wondered if judge Simon Cowell could turn on him, as he did with Welsh teenager Lucie Jones earlier in the series when she came up against the twins and Cowell left the final decision to the public vote.

But Cowell stuck with Murs, telling the twins: "I'm actually going to miss you, I am."

Cheryl Cole also voted for Murs while Walsh went with his act, the twins. That left Dannii Minogue to ratchet up the tension.

Before making her decision, she said: "I have a question. Is it a singing competition that we are voting on here? I need to know the answer to make a decision."

Eventually she said: "I'm going to have to judge it as I've judged it the whole time. On the premise that it's a singing competition I will have to send home John and Edward."

The pair remained all smiles as they were voted out, saying Murs deserved to go through and reach the final.

One of the twins said: "It's been the greatest experience of my life. We're here every single weekend on live television having the greatest time of our life."

The other chipped in with: "It's, like, deadly. It's, like, so cool."

Walsh said: "I've had the best time working with these guys. I feel young again. We've had an amazing time."

Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle and pop diva Mariah Carey - who both have new albums coming out - both performed on the show.

Boyle, wearing a floor-length black dress, received a standing ovation for her performance of Rolling Stones classic Wild Horses.

She said the whirlwind of the past six months was "bloody fantastic", adding: "Look out the public, that's all I can say, look out the public."

Her album, I Dreamed a Dream, is hotly tipped to go straight to number one.