I’m a mess, says Cher, as X Factor denies new claim of result-fixing

X Factor contestant Cher Lloyd admitted she was "a mess" after being saved by the judges.

Cher, 17, whose ability to handle the pressure of the live finals has already been questioned, appeared inconsolable despite triumphing over Irish singer Mary Byrne.

She said: "I can't even explain how
I feel — I'm just a bit of a mess. I didn't expect to get through and I'm very, very grateful. I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing and work really hard."

The series is facing new allegations of result-fixing after the rules were changed for the semi-final over the weekend.

Producers introduced a sing-off into the results show for the first time at the semi-final stage.

Instead of the act with the lowest number of votes going home, the bottom two were made to compete against each other in front of the judges, leading to the exit of 51-year-old Byrne.

Fans turned to messageboards and Twitter to vent their outrage at the decision to alter the rules, which was not advertised before last night's show. They claimed the changes were made to save Cher at the expense of Mary.

One user, Red Cherry, wrote on Digital Spy: "This is such a fix — It's obvious the judges are going to save Cher and she knows it. At what stage in the show is it totally down to public vote for the bottom two?"

On the show's Facebook page, Dawn Wilkes said: "Why did the pre-show trails and the ITV listing say the act with the least votes would be leaving?" An X Factor spokesman denied any suggestion of a fix, adding: "As a show evolves there are always changes to the format."

Matt Cardle, Rebecca Ferguson and boy band One Direction will join Cher in next Saturday's final.

A record number watched the semi-final, with the audience peaking at 15.2 million on Saturday — 1.4 million more than last year's semi. An average of 13.7 million tuned in, which was a 48 per cent share of the total audience.