-Axed contestant claims decision to let judges decide fourth finalist was made at the last minute
-Fans misled after host Dermot says their votes alone can get 'favourite act safely through to the final'
-Bosses said ITV Player caption that claimed act with fewest vote would leave competition was 'sent in error'
-Simon Cowell defends himself after Mary's Xtra Factor jibe
Controversy: Angry viewers are up in arms after Mary Byrne, seen here leaving the X Factor studios last night, was given the axe after the judges had the final say and not the voting public
Ousted contestant Mary Byrne has fuelled the X Factor 'fix' row by claiming that the decision to let the judges choose the fourth finalist was made 'at the last minute'.
The ITV talent show is facing a backlash from viewers who expected the semi-finals to be decided purely by public vote, as in all previous seven series.
X Factor chiefs denied the rule change was anything unusual but last night tried to stave of criticism by revealing that Miss Byrne will still get a Sony record deal.
On Saturday night host Dermot O'Leary told millions of viewers: 'Your votes and your votes alone can get your favourite act safely through to the final'.
But on Sunday's show the two contestants with fewest votes had to compete in a sing-off, with the judges deciding to axe Miss Byrne, 50, and save Cher Lloyd, 17.
Thousands of viewers went online to accuse show bosses of changing the rules to ensure Miss Lloyd would get through, while there have been 300 complaints to TV watchdog Ofcom and 50 to ITV.
Yesterday, Miss Byrne told how show producers warned her of the voting changes late on Saturday evening, contradicting ITV sources who said the decision was made weeks ago.
She said: 'They had to make the decision at the last minute to do it that way.
'I knew then my days were numbered. I hope I would have stayed in if it was just the public vote.'
The single-mother from Dublin said she had little faith that she would be chosen over Miss Lloyd, Rebecca Ferguson, 24, Matt Cardle, 27, and boy band One Direction, whose ages are between 16 and 18.
She added: 'It is a young person's show and there are four young acts in the final.'
Not too upset: Mary looked delighted as she appeared on Daybreak this morning and reportedly shouted 'I'm free', as she left the X factor studios on Sunday night
Last minute change: Mary told This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Mark Durden-Smith that she only found out about the sing-off on Saturday
The show was facing an even bigger backlash from fans today after a caption on the ITV Player on the channel's website revealed that the change had been made at the last minute.
The caption, which was dated December 5, stated: 'The semi-finalists find out the result of the public vote. The act with the fewest votes will leave the competition and the others will compete in next week's final.'
A spokesman for the channel said the caption on ITV Player was 'sent in error' and reiterated that the format decision was 'taken well before Sunday'.
In a separate statement, ITV added that 'the elimination of a contestant can be as the result of either a combination of the viewer vote in conjunction with the judges' decision or the viewer vote alone'.
Moving on: Mary (left) on the publicity trail outside ITV this morning, while Matt was back at work in the studio
Saved: Cher Lloyd looks ecstatic after being put through to the final last night (left), and today at the studios in London
But last year Danyl Johnson lost out in the semis after polling the lowest vote and the year before Diana Vickers was evicted after failing to impress fans of the show.
Viewers have branded the show 'more corrupt than Fifa' over social networking sites including Twitter, where one wrote: 'It is so obvious they wanted to keep Cheryl's pet Cher in the show and through to the final.'
Speaking to the Sun, pub owner Vivian Seymour, 55, from Chichester, West Sussex, said: 'I think it's a fix. Cher must have finished bottom of the public vote and they decided to have a sing-off so they could save her. It's not right.'
Reader Gemma Seymour, 30, a student from Fulham, West London, said: 'I think it's diabolical. I feel my vote for Mary this week has been totally wasted. It's very suspicious'
Homecoming: Rebecca Ferguson (left) returned to Liverpool today with mentor Cheryl Cole
Devoted fans: The finalist visited her old school Gateacre Community School
And Jemma, 30, from Fulham, West London, told the Mirror: 'I’ve spent a lot of money voting and this just isn’t fair. Everyone who voted for Mary should get a full refund.'
Fans were also left fuming today after Simon Cowell revealed that he had arranged a duet between Cheryl Cole and Cher on the finalist's debut album.
He confirmed live on the show that the pair would sing together and Cher's £2million record deal will make her the big winner of the series, even if she wins or not.
Welcome home mummy: Rebecca's children and family were waiting for her at home
He also reacted to Miss Byrne's comments about him on Saturday night's episode of the Xtra Factor after she criticised him 'for not making up his mind.'
Mary said that Cowell told her to try more contemporary songs but when she did he said she should stick to more classic tracks. 'So I can't win,' she said.
Simon said when casting his vote last night in favour of Cher: 'Mary I did hear what you said on the ITV2 show last night and it is difficult to get that kind of criticism, but having said that, I have supported you from the beginning.
'I think you've been a great contestant and tonight proved what a good singer you are.'
Sharing a joke: Despite seeing his last act voted out under a cloud of controversy, Louis Walsh was seen laughing loudly as he and Simon Cowell left the studios last night
American friends: Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas who performed on the show and actor Jack Black who was in the audience, wave as they leave the studios
But despite her strong performance of It’s A Man’s World, three of the judges voted to send a tearful Cher Lloyd through to the show’s final next week – and sent Miss Byrne home.
Louis Walsh voted for Miss Byrne, his act. But Danni Minogue picked Miss Lloyd to stay in the show, after hearing her sing Britney Spears’s Everytime, saying she was a ‘mix of vulnerable and confident’ and her performance ‘touched her heart’.
Face off: Mary Byrne (right) was sent home on tonight's X Factor after Simon Cowell chose to save Cher Lloyd following the sing-off
Cher, 17, looked tearful as she slowed down her usual uptempo songs to sing Britney Spears's 2004 single Everytime.
Simon's boy band One Direction were the first act to find out they were in the the final, to the delight of their mentor, who hadn't spent much time with them this week after suffering from a cold.
Sing off: Mary performed It's A Man's Man's Man's World, while Cher sang Everytime
Presenting the 2010 finalists: (L-R) Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Rebecca Ferguson, Cher and Matt Cardle
Next to discover their fate was Liverpudlian Rebecca Ferguson, then Matt Cardle - despite his shaky second performance on Saturday night after suffering from tonsillitis most of last week.
Last night's episode kicked off with a performance by X Factor 2008 alumni Alexandra Burke, who performed her new single The Silence.
We're through: Rebecca Ferguson and Matt Cardle celebrate after learning they're through to the final
Coming home: X Factor 2008 alumni Alexandra Burke performed her new single The Silence.
Next to discover their fate was Liverpudlian Rebecca Ferguson, then Matt Cardle - despite his shaky second performance on Saturday night after suffering from tonsillitis most of last week.
Last night's episode kicked off with a performance by X Factor 2008 alumni Alexandra Burke, who performed her new single The Silence.
She was followed by members of the cast of Glee, performing the show's stand-out hit
Don't Stop Believin' - but appeared to be having major sound problems as the members of the cast took to the stage.
The last guest performance of the night was from The Black Eyed Peas - who also performed last year- with their newest single The Time (Dirty Bit).
Energetic: The Black Eyed Peas performed their new single The Time (Dirty Bit)
Sound problems: The cast of hit U.S. TV show Glee performed Don't Stop Believin'
Meanwhile, Dannii made another bid to hang onto her X Factor 2010 style queen award in a stunning strapless lace dress with black pumps.
But Girls Aloud singer Cheryl showed a bit more flesh in a asymmetrical leopard-print 'mullet dress' - called so because of its floor-length back and mini-skirted front.
Fashion face-off: Dannii wore a revealing strapless lace number and black pumps, while Cheryl opted for a risky asymmetrical animal print 'mullet' dress and plain black heels
Source:Dailymail
