X Factor final: Nicole has microphone malfunction

X Factor final: Nicole has microphone malfunction
X Factor final: Nicole has microphone malfunction

Nicole Scherzinger almost came a cropper on Saturday night's X Factor final after his microphone cut out just seconds into her duet with Jahmene Douglas. The 21-year-old was performing Whitney Houston's The Greatest Love Of All with the Pussycat Dolls singer when the mishap occurred, much to her bemusement. However Jahmene came to the rescue with his own microphone which the pair shared in order to complete their performance. And afterwards he admitted it had been a 'blessing' to have the chance to work with the singer - while Dermot O'Leary joked, "This is the biggest show in the UK and we can't afford two working mics?" Nicole hit back with, "Well he's my little angel, and to share the stage with him - that's why I'm here." It was a busy night for the singer, who also duetted with James Arthur, her other remaining act in the competition. The pair teamed up on stage for an emotional rendition of the Bob Dylan/Adele hit Make You Feel My Love - which ended with James paying warm tribute to his mentor. "I just got to say Nicole you got my confidence back and you've been the best mentor," James told her. Nicole, in return, added: "He's a revelation, he's come so far and I'm so proud of him." Saturday's show also saw Jahmene and James performing solo, with Jahmene opting for an upbeat song for a change with the Curtis Mayfield hit Move On Up. James, meanwhile, delivered a powerhouse rendition of Nina Simone's Feelin' Good, which Gary Barlow labelled his "best performance to date," and added, "that was on another level."

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.