X Factor: Janet Devlin Hits Her Mark After Grandfather's Death, Text Vote Returns To Show

X Factor: Janet Devlin Hits Her Mark After Grandfather's Death, Text Vote Returns To Show
|

X Factor plays host tonight to the remaining twelve acts, after last week's dramatic twist saw the four judges each dispensing with the services of one of their own acts.

For the first time, the acts will be at the mercy of the live audience, with confirmation that text-voting is to make a return to the show for the first time since 2007.

Show favourite Janet Devlin proved her nerves of steel, by performing - and in tune - after the death of her grandfather this week.

Fellow contestant, Sami, 31, from Rhyl, North Wales, said she had been looking after the Northern Irish teenager this week.

She said: "Because I'm the oldest girl in the house, I fuss about the other girls. I even make sure Janet takes her vitamins because she's a vegetarian.

"She is OK, she stayed in my room the other night but I think she'll be fine on Saturday night."

She also laughed off reports of bullying in the house, saying: "I'll make sure that no-one will pick on Janet. Janet's going to sell millions of albums, I'm her biggest fan."

Sami, who has moved in to a new room with fellow over-25s contestant Johnny Robinson, promised a "very different" performance from last week when she sang You're Free.

She said: "I'm not going to be singing an up-tempo song. It's a huge song and I've got to live up to it."

She also revealed that she is on a special diet for the show but has actually managed to put weight on, saying: "Because we're so busy it's really easy to eat a lot of rubbish."

But she said if she went on to win the show she would spend the prize money on a tummy tuck and liposuction and send her mother and father on holiday.

In other news, X Factor fans will be able to vote for their favourite acts by text for the first time since 2007, programme makers have said.

The votes, which will be charged at 35p, will be cast when lines open on each Saturday's live show until noon on Sunday.

The telephone and red button votes will be available until lines close on Sunday's live results show.

Director of ITV Interactive Ann Cook said: "Texting is a hugely popular way of interacting for ITV's viewers therefore I am delighted that we are reintroducing text voting into the X Factor this weekend alongside phone and red button voting.

"ITV and all the partners involved in the show have worked alongside the mobile network operators over the last 12 months to ensure that we have full confidence in returning this platform which will enable more consumers to vote on the UK's most popular entertainment show."

Voting has caused problems for the hit ITV1 talent show in the past.

Viewers complained after the 2007 final that they could not get through on the phone to vote for runner-up Rhydian Roberts.

A report by auditors Deloitte found "serious technical issues" with red button and text voting in previous series.