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X Factor spat as Alisha goes

18/11/2007

X Factor judges Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne grumbled their way through last night's show before Alisha Bennett exited for good.

The banter between Cowell, Osbourne and fellow judges Danni Minogue and Louis Walsh had an especially bitter taste for much of the show.

But it was an argument over Alisha's backing singers which put the final strain on frayed tempers.

Cowell criticised the rollerskaters for a poor performance, saying: "It was a mess. There was one point where they were almost falling into a heap around you. Sharon, you should have stopped those dancers."

Osbourne was having none of his objections, however, pointing out that she had no real control over such issues.

"I don't have the power on the show to stop anything. You hire and fire. I don't pick the dancers. I'm a paid hand here. I get a pay cheque every week, it's not my job, I don't have the power," she moaned.

Cowell sneered: "You mean you couldn't have stopped that?"

Osbourne responded: "We shouldn't argue like this in front of Alisha. It's not her fault and she doesn't deserve it."

Alisha's individual performance was in fact very good as she continued to display a growing confidence.

But her run of unpopularity with the voting public continued tonight as she found herself, yet again, in the bottom two alongside girl band Hope.

Cowell, Walsh and Minogue were united in voting her off, despite their clear unhappiness at having to do so. All three gave her a standing ovation at the end of the show.

"I simply did the best I could," she said.