Katie Waissel survived a third X Factor sing-off last night after two of the competition's judges sent rival contestant Treyc Cohen home, after Cheryl Cole refused to vote.
However, the decision to save the blonde 24-year-old was shrouded in controversy after Cole, who mentors both singers, refused to choose between them.
Waissel found herself in the bottom two for the third time alongside Cohen, 26, with the pair polling the lowest number of viewer votes.
When asked to vote, Geordie singer Cole told host Dermot O'Leary: "I don't have to send anyone home."
The Girls Aloud star's decision left the two singers' fates in the hands of the three remaining judges, with Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh opting to save Waissel, despite saying she was the weaker singer.
Dannii Minogue voted for Cohen, who sang Toni Braxton's 'Unbreak My Heart' in the sing-off.
According to the Press Association there were also growing claims on internet websites that producers were rigging the show to keep Waissel in.
Leaving the show, Cohen said: "I've had the best time, I've met some great people. I've made some good lifelong friends."
On The Xtra Factor on ITV 2, Waissel said: "Treyc should be here. I just really want to be here, in this competition. I really thought I was going home. It's not my time. I want to continue - I want to show everyone that I am me."
