Reluctant judges vote another act off 'X Factor'

Tamera Foster dramatically survived being booted off 'The X Factor' tonight despite forgetting her lyrics, as fellow teen Hannah Barrett crashed out of the singing contest.

Sixteen-year-old Foster was heavily criticised by the judges for fluffing her lines on last night’s show – the third time she had failed to remember her words for a performance this series.

[comment]Tamera Foster[/comment]

The student from Kent looked shocked as host Dermot O’Leary revealed she had escaped the bottom two on tonight’s results show.

Barrett, 17, and boyband Rough Copy were left to battle it out in the sing-off after receiving the fewest votes from the public.

But an emotional performance of Etta James’ 'I’d Rather Go Blind' was not enough to save Barrett as three of the four judges voted for the south London trio.

Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Obsourne branded the bottom two result a “travesty”, while Louis Walsh said both acts “sing with heart” and “remember all the words!”.

Voting to send Rough Copy home, Barrett’s mentor Scherzinger said: “I just can’t believe this. These two acts should be in the finals, they shouldn’t be standing here.

“I’m so disappointed and furious with the British public right now that they have my girl in the bottom two for the third time. I just think it’s a travesty.”

Osbourne, who chose to send Barrett home, added: “On last night’s performance it’s a travesty that Hannah should be here and Rough Copy.”

Gary Barlow, who is mentor on the show to Rough Copy, told both acts “it’s amazing you’re in the bottom two”, before voting for Barrett to leave.

Walsh, whose casting vote sent Barrett out of the competition, said: “It was an amazing sing off. It’s amazing that you’ve got two such talented acts and they remember all the words!

“They sing with heart and they sing with soul. I don’t want to send anybody home.”

After the result, Barrett, from Croydon, south London, said: “I’m so blessed to be here. I just thank God for everything I have.”

Rough Copy performed Oasis' track 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out' in the sing-off, after 'X Factor' had celebrated its 10th anniversary with the return of two of its most successful acts.

Boyband One Direction who finished third on the ITV1 series in 2010 performed their new single, 'The Story Of My Life', while JLS – runners-up in 2008 – sang Everybody In Love with the remaining finalists.

Jessie J also joined US R&B star Mary J Blige on stage after the pair collaborated on Blige’s new Christmas album, 'A Mary Christmas'.

Viewers were told they would be able to chose a song to performed by each of the finalists in next week’s show by voting through the X Factor app.