Ryan Dunn

By CHRIS JOHNSON

And he's off: John Adeley was given the boot from X Factor tonight after coming in the bottom two with Treyc Cohen

Louis Walsh claims not to be scared of Simon Cowell - but maybe he should be.
Tonight the X Factor supremo wreaked his revenge on the Irish judge - who had dared to criticise his mentoring skills the night before - by axing his act, John Adeley.

In a tense sing-off, the 29-year-old care worker went head to head with Treyc Cohen after the pair came in the bottom two.

Revenge: Simon Cowell had the deciding vote and kicked off Louis's act after the Irish judge dared to criticise his mentoring skills last night

But all the judges bar Louis voted to save Treyc - mentored by Cheryl Cole.
And Cowell had the deciding vote, declaring: Judging on the sing off, I'm going to send John home.'

The night before on the live show, Louis laid into Cowell for not giving girl group Belle Amie enough guidance.

The group, who were favourite to go tonight, escaped the public vote this week, but received a lukewarm reception to their rendition of Stand By You, which they had picked themselves.

Moment of truth: Dermot O'leary tells the contestants to prepare for the sing-off

In competition: Treyc, who is mentored by Cheryl, sang a Dreamgirls track while John crooned to a Kelly Clarkson number

Louis placed the blame squarely on Cowell, saying he was putting all his energy into his other remaining act, One Direction.

Simon responded by asking Walsh why he always had to be 'bitchy, mean and spiteful'.
But clearly thinking revenge is a dish best served cold, he waited until tonight to make his ultimate comeback - and John was the scapegoat.

Good news: Girl band Belle Amie managed to escape the public vote and were delighted after getting through

Winner: Simon punches the air after learning they are through. Last night Louis said he wasn't giving the girls enough direction

Earlier, John performed the Kelly Clarkson hit Because Of You on the results show as he battled for survival against Treyc, who belted out the Dreamgirls song One Night Only.

It means Cole remains the only judge in the contest with all her acts still in tact.
Louis now only has two act remaining - Mary Byrne and Wagner, who managed to survive the public vote this week, despite being panned last night.

Dannii has three of four acts left while Cowell has two.

Sultry: Cheryl performed her new sing Promise on the results show

X Factor favourite: Michael Buble performed his new track Hollywood on the show, breaking off his holiday to make an appearance

On Saturday's show John performed the 1982 track Zoom by Fat Larry's Band.
But most of the judges said that although the vocals were good, the smooching backing dancers detracted from the performance.

Treyc, 26, meanwhile, turned rock chick as she performed the Led Zeppelin song, Whole Lotta Love.

Sunday's result show also saw Michael Buble singhis new track Hollywood - the first time he has ever performed it.

Dressed to impress: Cheryl made her entrance on the results show in a short silver and white number while, right, Dannii donned a black floral dress

Making an entrance: The judges, from left, Dannii, Louis, Cheryl and Simon

Host Dermot O'Leary revealed the 35-year-old singer broke off his holiday to make an appearance on the show.

Afterwards Cheryl Cole performed her new single Promise.
The judge stepped out from behind the panel, slipped out of her silver dress and straight into her sexy stage attire.

Battling her pre-performance nerves, the singer put on a high energy routine, clad in a glittering ivory tuxedo jacket, with black bandage strips wrapped all the way up her legs.

Celebrations: Cheryl looked delighted each time she learned each of her acts had survived the public vote

Show opener: The contestants kicked off proceedings with their weekly song

She was joined by her customary entourage of backing dancers as she belted out the track - apparently singing certain sections live, while at other times lip-syncing over a backing track.

The song is her debut release from her second solo album Messy Little Raindrops.
Speaking after the performance, she told host Dermot O'Leary: 'I really enjoyed it, it's amazing to be on this side of the stage.'

Asked what he thought of the dancing, Louis Walsh responded enthusiastically: 'Absolutely loved it!'

Buddies: Despite reports of a fued, Cher and Katie put on a friendly display

In what was the third week of the live shows, the contestants raised the bar with a series of strong performances on Saturday night.

Surprisingly, Simon backed Dannii up several times throughout the night, agreeing with her points.

Paije Richardson, 19, opened the show with a pared down rendition of the Rufus and Chaka Khan hit Ain't Nobody.

The cinema worker lifted the roof with his soulful dulcet tones, with his impressive range seeing him put in an all-conquering performance.

Brave face: The members of Belle Amie kept close together as they arrived at the studios earlier today

It was a good night for Rebecca Ferguson, with Simon telling her it was the night she turned into a star.

Wearing a Jessica Rabbit style full length red gown, complete with red wig, the 24-year-old single mother crooned to Nora Lee King's classic Why Don’t You Do Right.

Cher Lloyd, 17, who has been at the centre of an internet hate campaign this week, sang as mash up of the Blackstreet track No Diggity and Shout by Tears For Fears, more recently covered by James Corden and Dizzee Rascal.

Matt Cardle, 27, had the ladies swooning with an acoustic version of Hit Me Baby One More Time by Britney Spears.

The former painter and decorator brought the house down, receiving a huge applause afterwards.

Facing the music: Wagner Carillho and Paije Richardson had a certain spring in their step

Boyband One Direction performed Nobody Knows by Pink.
Dannii praised the performance, but questioned how the track was a 'guilty pleasure' - the theme of the evening's songs.

Mary Byrne performed I (Who Have Nothing) by Shirley Bassey.
But while the judges agreed it was a top class effort from the 50-year-old Dublin supermarket worker, Dannii and Simon called for her to sing something more current next time.

Aiden Grimshaw, 18, performed another Bassey hit, Diamonds Are Forever, which has also been covered by Arctic Monkeys.

Heads down: John Adeleye, pictured at the back, with Aiden Grimshaw, left, and Matt Cardle
Cheryl told him the performance was a bit intense, although Simon and mentor Dannii disagreed.

After coming in the bottom three last week, girlband Belle Amie were allowed to chose their own track this week, opting for I’ll Stand By You by The Pretenders, a track familiar with Cheryl as Girls Aloud have also covered the track.

Wagner Carrilho, the oldest contestant at 54, did a mash up of Spice Up Your Life by the Spice Girls and Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca, which left the judges somewhat lost for words.

Cheryl said his efforts were more guilty than a pleasure to watch, but mentor Louis defended him, saying it was all a bit of fun.

Katie Waissel, 24, closed the show with I Wanna Be Like You from The Jungle Book.
She was given high praise by all judges. Cheryl said it was a breath of fresh air, while Simon added: 'It shouldn't have worked, but it did. I loved it.'