how is it going to work tonight ?

Louis said one goes and no judges vote on Irish radio the other day. I know they can do what they want but surely he can't go round saying things like that then they change the rules.

My guess is that they will suit themselves depending who is in bottom 2


If we don't get told for sure at the VERY START of tonight's show, then that pretty much confirms they are going to fudge it if required.

Cowell's unwillingness to let the public take the reigns is oddly fascinating.

20:00 - The X Factor (ITV1)

Series 7, Episode 9: Britain has been voting over the last 24 hours and now 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. Including live performances from the cast of hit US series Glee, former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke and chart-topping group the Black Eyed Peas. Hosted by Dermot O'Leary.

Fewest votes could be Cher Mary sang well though all judges comments were about the fact she has a future after the show, Seemed to be saying this has ended for you.

with only 3 guest performances, how are they gonna eek out the hour? ... 3 guests have usually finished by 8.30 in previous weeks to leave ½ hour for result, 2 sing-offs and judges decision

i was thinking that myself mate, i wonder if they might revert to a sing off - if so, it's bad for mary....

are you sure?

I can envisage a Cher / Mary sing-off with Mary getting to the final to give the judges one act each

Danni more upbeat about Mary than Cher and Simon is capable of anything

If they revert to a sing-off it surely means One Direction or Cher are rock bottom in the vote.
I don't think Cowell would actually risk such an outrageous bit of intervention at such a late stage to save any of the others.

Having four in the final in the first place seems to be about giving an act he suspected will probably go out in fourth (no way to tell whether that was 1D or Cher) the 'credibility' of a final finish.

It would seem very odd to go against the description of tonight's show from the The XF on TV guide on the XF's own website at this late stage.

Usually, there are at least two shows before the final where it is PV only.  This year it looks like there is only tonight.  I'm convinced the judges went against the bottom of the PV in quite a few of their decisions, and SCowell has had the cheek to make little speeches about putting matters back into the hands of the public on previous weeks.

He's probably still got the hump about the way Danyl was booted out last year.

yeah ok, grendels point stands, wonder how they will stretch it to an hour

the special guests sing, 5 left all sing together, loser sings, best bits, judges rampping, show done, easy

Louis the lying weasel.

Flip sake i thought the judges did not vote tonight. Looks like they changed things to save Cher from a public vote.

100% cher defo bottom