X Factor boyband The Risk and veteran singer Johnny Robinson have been sent home from the competition in a double elimination. The first act to go was The Risk in a move that shocked their mentor Tulisa Contostavlos. She gasped and put her hand over her mouth when she learned they had received the lowest number of votes from the public.
Frankie Cocozza, who received the worst reviews after Saturday night's floor fillers-themed show, had been the favourite to leave. He appeared stunned when it was announced that he was returning next week.The teenager, who even admitted on the Xtra Factor that he thought he should have left in the first week, was dismissed by Louis Walsh as performing "bad karaoke".Johnny and Kitty Brucknell, the only two remaining acts in Walsh's over-25s groups, then had to take part in a sing-off. The judges all decided to save Kitty, who impressed with her version of Kelly Clarkson's Beautiful Disaster, rather than Johnny, who sang Unchained Melody.
Louis seemed upset at having to choose between his two acts, later sobbing as he embraced Johnny, but said he had "loved" working with both. Kelly Rowland, whose remaining acts are Janet Devlin and Misha Bryan, said she wanted to save the singer "whose career I can follow and who I'm excited by".Take That star Gary Barlow did not need to cast his vote, as the other three had already been unanimous with choosing to save Kitty.
But he added: "I'd have sent home Johnny. But I need to say that Johnny is one of the nicest people in this competition. Well done, Johnny - you've been brilliant."