Simon Cowell has defended Olly Murs after the new X Factor presenter prematurely announced Monica Michael's elimination on the live results show.
Olly, who co-presents the talent show with Caroline Flack, revealed that Monica would be going home before he was handed the envelope containing the deadlock decision, leading fans to deem the show a fix.
© Photo: RexOlly had the full support of Simon after his TV blunder
Simon was quick to run to the singer's defence, telling the Daily Mirror: "There were a lot of people screaming in his ears, they were trying to get him to clarify something. Anyone in that situation is going to screw up.
"I think the way he handled it was great, it’s part of his charm. I think every week he’s getting better and better. People have got to get used to it but he’s got a massive future ahead of him, 100 per cent he’s still got my support."
© Photo: RexCaroline and Olly have replaced Dermot O'Leary to present the show
The music mogul, who recently shared a fun snap of his son Eric sitting on his judging chair, said that they all laughed about the gaffe backstage and that it's all part of the fun of live TV.
"We laughed about all that afterwards," he said. "We could record this show and not do it live, the fact that certain things go wrong is what I think makes the show interesting."
The lead judge lost his final over 25s act at the weekend, Anton Stephans, leaving fellow judges Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw all with a chance to win this year's competition.
© Photo: RexCheryl, Nick and Rita remain in the running to win the show this year
It wasn't just Olly's mistake that had people talking about the perils of live TV, as Anton and Nick had an awkward dispute, where the Radio 1 DJ suggested the hopeful was "faking" his emotions.
"It's one thing to play records on the radio and be a radio personality and have lots of pop star friends, and lead that lifestyle, but it's quite something else to be up there and do it," Anton said of Nick. "Three of those judges absolutely know what that's about because two of them have done it and are mega stars. One of them makes global stars for a living, so understands how it is.
"So if someone says what you're doing is not real, I can turn around and go 'actually, you don't know what it takes to do that and that is not accurate.' It's your opinion and you're welcome to it, but I am also able to stand up for myself."
