Axed 'X-Factor' teenager tipped to bounce back

A teenage 'X-Factor' contender has been made one of the favourites to win the competition despite being kicked off the talent show last night.

Cheryl Cole told Gamu Nhengu she could not take her any further forward in the search for a singing star but bookmakers and fans have not given up on the 18-year-old student who left her native Zimbabwe for Scotland five years ago.

More than 45,000 people signed up to a Facebook group called 'Gamu should have got through', and bookmakers Paddy Power are offering odds of 11/2 on her winning amid reports some of the axed candidates could return as wild card entries.

Those are better odds than the 18/1 offered on Katie Waissel, who got through at Gamu’s expense, winning the competition.

Painter and decorator Matt Cardle is the favourite to win at 11/4.

The final 32 acts were whittled down to 12 on last night’s show and the pressure will now build in earnest as they face the nerve-shredding prospect of appearing live on the nation’s television screens.

There was no shortage of tension as the final 12 were announced.

Cole, who made her name as an ITV talent show winner with group Girls Aloud on 'Popstars: The Rivals', dramatically broke down in tears during the decision-making progress, but quickly regained her composure to lambast Waissel for being “a little bit annoying”.

Cole told her: “First of all I want to say it’s been a pleasure to get to know you as a person.

“I think you’re quirky, I think you’re original, I think there’s something very intriguing about you, but I also have to say that there’s a little something that I think people could find, if I’m being brutally honest, a little bit annoying.

“Also sometimes when I’m talking to you there’s always something that I don’t believe.”

Cole also gave Cher Lloyd, 17, the green light to go on to the next stage even though the teenager has spent the last few days battling a throat infection.

Judge Louis Walsh chose 30-year-old care home worker John Adeleye from London as one of the three in the Over-28s category to go through.

He also decided that Dubliner Mary Byrne, 50, who makes her living in a supermarket, had made the grade.

The 12 acts who will go through to the live finals are:

GROUPS

FYD (For Your Direction)

Belle Amie

1 Direction

BOYS

Aiden Grimshaw

Matt Cardle

Nicolo Festa

GIRLS

Cher Lloyd

Katie Waissel

Rebecca Ferguson

OVER 28s

John Adeleye

Mary Byrne

Storm Lee