X Factor shock as Joseph Whelan crashes out of show
There was a shock for fans of X Factor hopeful Joseph Whelan on Saturday night after he crashed out of the show at the judges' houses stage.
The 26-year-old - who charmed judges at the auditions when he was joined by his five-year-old son Kian - made it to the semi-finals this year after being controversially eliminated at boot camp stage in 2012.
However he was once again left disappointed after Sharon Osbourne decided not to take him to the live shows, instead choosing van driver Shelley Smith to proceed in the competition.
Joseph admitted afterwards that losing once again was like 'the end of the world'.
"That's worse than last year...I've come further and done more," he told Dermot O'Leary.
"It hits you so hard when it happens."
The singer's rejection from the show in 2012 prompted outrage from fans, who launched a Facebook campaign to have him reinstated in the competition.
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Sharon's all-female line-up also includes prison officer Sam Bailey and London student Lorna Simpson - with fellow hopefuls Andrea Magee and Zoe Devlin also being sent home.
Saturday night's show also saw Louis Walsh pick his final three boys for the live shows - choosing Luke Friend, Sam Callahan and Nicholas MacDonald.
Nicholas's triumph was a particularly emotional one, with the teenager sobbing as Louis broke the news that he had made the live shows.
“It just means the world to me this competition and I want to pay something back to my family. They have just sacrificed so much, money and time and effort and I could pay them back," he said before learning the verdict.
Afterwards even Louis was seen shedding a tear, telling him: "You're making me cry...I don't want to cry on TV. Don't let me down, don't let yourself down. This is your big chance!"
His decision meant disappointment for Paul Akister, Ryan Mathie and Giles Potter, all of whom were knocked out of the competition following their performances.
Sunday night's show will see the line-up for the finals completed as Gary Barlow chooses his final groups and Nicole Scherzinger selects her final girls.
The X Factor will kick off at 7.10pm on Sunday night.