Nicolo and F.Y.D become the first casualties of the show as they are voted off in a double elimination

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Disappointment: The five members of F.Y.D looked close to tears as judge Louis Walsh sealed their fate


Nicolo Festa and boy band F.Y.D became the first acts to be booted off The X Factor tonight as the series started with a double eviction.

Italian Nicolo polled the lowest number of viewer votes so was automatically kicked out of the competition.
F.Y.D, which stands for For Your Direction, and Katie Waissel polled the next lowest totals of votes and faced a sing-off with their fate decided by the judging panel.

But with only their mentor Simon Cowell opting to keep them in, the fivesome's fate was sealed.


Festa, 21, who had said he wanted to be 'a legend', told host Dermot O'Leary: 'I feel like crap.'

His mentor Dannii Minogue said she thought he had performed the cover of Lady Gaga's Just Dance fantastically but it was hard to stand out among 16 acts.

After he left, F.Y.D and Katie Waissel took to the stage to perform in the attempt to impress the judges and keep themselves in the competition.

F.Y.D tried to save themselves with a performance of Rihanna's Don't Stop The Music while Katie, 24, performed Don't Let Me Down by the Beatles.


Shock and surprise: Italian Nicolo Festa looked numb as he was voted off immediately while Katie Waissel couldn't believe that she had been saved by the judges


Katie and F.Y.D then had to face the judges who had to decide who they would keep in the competition and who they would send home.

Simon looked at Katie and said: 'I am amazed you didn't sing like that last night. But am going to back my own act for obvious reasons.

Cheryl Cole, who mentors Katie, then added: 'Not just a bias but based on performance, am sending home F.Y.D.'

Dannii Minogue echoed her sentiments before the final vote went to Louis Walsh who said he was torn between his head and his heart but was going to make 'the right decision'.


Safe: Katie's performance of Don't Let Me Down by the Beatles was enough to keep her in the competition for another week...


...but F.Y.D's rendition of Rihanna's Don't Stop The Music wasn't good enough to save them


He said: 'I'm going to save the act that deserves it and can grow and give more, has the most passion, ambition. So the act I'm gonna send home is F.Y.D.'

FYD, who had never performed together until their first audition for the show, said they would stay as a band.

And member Ryan-Lee Seager added: 'It is a singing competition and I just wish we'd sung a little bit more.'


All together: All 16 finalists opened the show with a performance of DeBarge's Rhythm of the Night


The show started with a group version of DeBarge's Rhythm of the Night from all the finalists.

It also featured the return of last year's winner Joe McElderry, who sang his latest single Ambitions which was released today.


Last year's winner: Joe McElderry performed his new single Ambitions


There was also an energetic medley of his hits from US star Usher who mopped his face with a towel which he then threw to the screaming audience at the suggestion of host Dermot O'Leary.

Usher said the finalists had a lot of talent and urged them to believe in themselves, adding: 'You got here because you were talented, right?'


Special guest: R&B star Usher performed a medley of his two hit songs DJ Got Us Falling In Love and OMG




source :dailymail