Boyband and singer in X Factor exit

Boyband The Risk and veteran singer Johnny Robinson were booted off the X Factor in a double elimination tonight.

The first act to go was The Risk, in a move that shocked their mentor Tulisa Contostavlos, who gasped and put her hand over her mouth when she learned they had received the lowest number of votes from the public.

Frankie Cocozza, who received the worst reviews after last night’s floor fillers show, had been the favourite to leave and appeared stunned when it was announced that he was returning next week.

The teenager, who even admitted on the Xtra Factor last night that he thought he should have left in the first week, was dismissed by Louis Walsh as performing “bad karaoke”.

Robinson and Kitty Brucknell, the only two remaining acts in Walsh’s over-25s groups, then had to take part in a sing-off.

The judges all decided to save Brucknell, who impressed with her version of Kelly Clarkson’s Beautiful Disaster, rather than Robinson, who sang Unchained Melody.

Walsh seemed upset at having to choose between his two acts, later sobbing as he embraced Robinson, but said he had “loved” working with both.

Kelly Rowland, whose remaining acts are Janet Devlin and Misha Bryan, said she wanted to save the singer “whose career I can follow and who I’m excited by”.

Take That star Gary Barlow did not need to cast his vote, as the other three had already been unanimous with choosing to save Brucknell, but added: “I’d have sent home Johnny.

“But I need to say that Johnny is one of the nicest people in this competition. Well done, Johnny – you’ve been brilliant.”

Brucknell was in tears as she hugged Robinson before joining the other six remaining acts.

Asked what his contestant would do now, Walsh broke down as he said: “I don’t know. I just don’t know. It’s hard for me.”

The other remaining acts are girl group Little Mix, who shouted with joy as they were the first to learn they had made the cut, Marcus Collins and Craig Colton.

Scouse hairdresser Collins had been praised by Barlow for his rendition of Jackie Wilson’s Reet Petite, and was told he delivered “the performance of the season”.

He is the new favourite to scoop the top prize, with bookmaker’s Coral giving him odds of 7-2 to win.

Former X Factor contestants JLS performed on the show tonight, as did Florence + The Machine.