Simon Cowell down to two groups after losing two acts in two weeks as Diva Fever and Storm Lee are voted off

By EMILY SHERIDAN


Farewell: Storm Lee (left - with his mentor Louis Walsh) and Diva Fever (L-R: Craig Saggers and Josef Al-Smadi) were the two acts to leave The X Factor last night


Scottish-American singer Storm Lee and camp duo Diva Fever were the two acts to be voted off X Factor last night.

The flamboyant star ended up in the bottom three alongside Simon Cowell's acts Diva Fever and Belle Amie after receiving the lowest number of public votes.

Diva Fever, comprising of Craig Saggers and Josef Al-Smadi, had to leav
e after judges Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh saved Belle Amie.

Three of the judges opted for girl group Belle Amie after deeming their performance of Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry stronger than Diva Fever's I Will Survive.

Louis said he had chosen to save Belle Amie because he believed the four-piece 'can grow and getter better'.

Making it easy for Simon so he would have to chose between his acts, Cheryl made the third and deciding vote by saving Belle Amie.

Simon said: 'I don't have to answer that question... that's not fair' when he was asked by Dermot who he would have saved.


Safe for another week: Belle Amie (L-R) Geneva Lane, Esther Campbell, Rebecca Creighton and Sophia Wardman were saved


The buck stops with you Simon: Craig appeared to blame his mentor Simon Cowell for not giving his group better songs


Speaking after being voted off, Saggers said: 'We have had the time of your life. It's been mad being on the X Factor. We think we can really sing. With better songs we could have done a lot better.'

His bandmate Josef Al-Smadi added: 'We just went in it to have fun and make people smile.'

On reflection, Al-Smadi blamed Simon for picking a brand new song, Duck Sauce's Barbra Streisand for them to perform last night, which may not have been familiar to the show's audience.

Simon apologised to the pair, saying: 'I accept full responsibility. I let you down and I'm sorry.'


Tough decisions: Louis and Dannii both saved Belle Amie


Deciding vote: Cheryl Cole voted to save the girl group, meaning her 'best buddy' Simon Cowell wouldn't have to make a difficult choice


Now Simon is down to Belle Amie and New Direction - two bands he put together himself after deciding the bandmembers weren't strong enough as solo performers.

After being told by Dermot O'Leary he was leaving the show, Storm, 37, said: 'I just want everyone out there who's ever believed in something to never, ever give up because you haven't seen the best of me yet, let me tell you.'

Meanwhile, Cheryl's controversial act Katie Waissel was the first act to find out she was through to Week Three after ending up in the sing-off last week.


How apt: Diva Fever sang I Will Survive


Singing for survival: Belle Amie performed Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry


It wasn't long before she was joined in the 'safe' zone by all three acts in Cheryl's girls group, Treyc Cohen, Cher Lloyd and Rebecca Ferguson.

Aside from the departure of two acts, the audience were also treated to performances from guest judge Katy Perry and 2008 alumnus Diana Vickers.

The blonde teenager performed her new single My Wicked Heart in a sequinned basque with a troupe of hunky male dancers.


All the girls are through: (L-R) Treyc Cohen, Cher Lloyd, Cheryl and Ferguson celebrate after Katie Waissel is the first through to next week


She was followed by Perry - who stepped in on behalf of Dannii at the Dublin auditions - who sang her new single Fireworks.

The American singer showed off her impressive figure in a tight catsuit covering in sequinned firework designs as she sang amidst a backgroup of pyrotechnics.

The contestants opened the results show with a group performance of Lady GaGa's Telephone.


Homecoming: X Factor 2008 alumni Diana Vickers (left) and this year's guest judge Katy Perry both performed their new singles


Saturday's live show featured each act performing a song by their 'Heroes' - but the theme appeared to be used rather flexible to Cowell who had Diva Fever dancing to a song by chart newcomers Duck Sauce.

Irish supermarket checkout worker Mary Byrne won a standing ovation from the crowd after she belted out Dusty Springfield's You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.

But a lot of Saturday's show had the attention focused on the battling judges, who appeared to be split into two camps.


Decision time: Three of the four judges chose to save Belle Amie over Diva Fever


Simon today openly admitted there are 'definitely two divisions' on the panel.
Drawing clear battle lines, Simon said he and Cheryl are just 'trying to have a good time' on the show, but blasted Dannii and Louis for not showing enough enthusiasm.
He said the two 'look like they've been sucking lemons.'

Dannii certainly turned sour after becoming the target of Simon's criticism last night, when he lambasted the dancers chosen to accompany her act Paije Richardson.


Battle lines: Danni and Louis put on a show of solidarity holding hands, while Cheryl and Simon kept to their sides














source: dailymail