The X Factor: Au revoir Rikki

Rikki loses out to Rachel in the sing off and Cheryl shuts up her critics, but Houston we have a problem...

The X Factor: Cheryl's Rikki leaves the show

Poor little Rikki Loney, it's the end of his X Factor dream.

I really need to start putting money on at the bookie's you know, because I thought he would be in the sing off with Rachel and he would be the one to go.

I think it was the right result out of the two of them although Rachel has got a mountain to climb next week. While there's no doubt that she can sing, the problem is that all the others make a bigger impression than she does and I'm not sure what she can do to get us to notice her.

She may have lost her Rikki, but Cheryl Cole made the X Factor all about her this weekend.

Cheryl this week gave us tears and tantrums. She also brought in the bandmates and even managed to get husband Ashley down to the studio. The woman is fighting back.

Cheryl sang live after the uproar over rumours that she planned to mime and she made sure she pulled her performance out of the bag.

The outfit was a bit ridiculous [especially the oversized hat] and while I don't personally like the song, she sang in tune, gave a great performance and pretty much rocked it. Very Rhythm Nation.

Meanwhile, Houston we have a problem - it wasn't just Whitney's dress that fell apart.

The rambling to Dermot though can be forgiven for her comment on the other contestants by saying that they're: 'young, plenty of time to practice.' For that I read: 'I thought they were all rubbish.' Don't hold back Whitney!

Also Kudos to Cole for not holding back and pointing out that the twins should have been in the bottom two.

Now I'm not sticking up for John and Edward in the slightest, they were rubbish, but to be honest I think Rikki and Rachel weren't / aren't going to win, so at least we get to laugh at the twins / spit bile about them for another week. They will go. They won't win. I won't allow it.