There is speculation that Cheryl Cole may have mimed her performance of Promise This on Sunday night's show.

According to reports, the 27-year-old sang a portion of it live, but mimed to a backing track for the rest of it.

There is also talk that Cheryl pre-recorded her performance before the results show went out.

Meanwhile John Adeleye was named as the latest hopeful to bow out of the X Factor.

Adeleye ended up in the bottom two alongside Treyc Cohen after polling the fewest viewer votes among the 12 remaining acts.

The 30-year-old Londoner opted to sing Because of You by Kelly Clarkson to stay in the competition, while Cohen performed Jennifer Hudson's One Night Only.

Girls mentor Cheryl Cole opted to spare her own act Cohen, while Adeleye was supported by his Over 28s mentor Louis Walsh.

It was left to fellow judges Dannii Minogue and Simon Cowell to choose to send Adeleye home.

As the result was announced, host Dermot O'Leary turned to the former care-home worker and said: "You've been an absolute gentleman, such a great voice."