Tipped off? Cher Lloyd, pictured arriving for rehearsals in London today, reportedly knew she would be in the sing-off on Sunday
First Aiden Grimshaw revealed he knew his time was up because of a leak of The X Factor results online.
Now Cher Lloyd has confessed she too realised she would be in the ‘sing off’ hours before it was announced because of information put out on micro-blogging site Twitter.
The surprisingly accurate leaks will fuel concerns that the show could be compromised by well placed sources on it or connected to it.
The 17-year-old fled the stage in tears on Sunday night’s show after narrowly avoiding elimination beating Paije Richardson.
All of the judges, apart from Mr Richardson’s mentor Dannii Minogue, opted to save the teenager after her rendition of Shakespeare Sister’s ‘Stay’.
But Miss Lloyd’s father has revealed that she and her entire family knew she would be in the bottom two because the information was leaked on Twitter.
Darren Lloyd from Malvern, Worcestershire, said he told his daughter before she performed in the live show.
Distraught: A sobbing Cher was comforted by host Dermot O'Leary on Sunday as she waited to hear her fate alongside Paije Richardson
He explained: 'We were tipped off in the morning. It was leaked on Twitter. We were hoping it was lies but unfortunately it was not.
‘I called Cher and told her. She was upset but was determined not to let it affect her performance.
'It happened the week before as well, with Aiden.’
He added that the information put out online correctly predicted Miss Lloyd and Mr Richardson would be in the bottom two.
Conspiracy? Aiden Grimshaw (right) said he knew he was in the bottom two with Katie Waissel two weeks ago because 'a friend saw it leaked on Twitter'
The revelations come just a week after Mr Grimshaw, 18, told The X Factor host Dermot O’Leary that he was prepared for his exit because the results had been placed online.
A friend had texted him to warn him that he was in the bottom three just 30 minutes before lines closed.
He then faced a sing-off with controversial contestant Katie Waissel, 24, who Simon Cowell saved.
The accurate information will fuel speculation that it is coming from well placed sources connected to the show.
An X Factor spokesman denied there was any chance the show could be compromised and said: 'People make lots of unfounded predictions on the internet about the order of the contestants based on various popularity polls. There is not a leak.’
Best of frenemies: Cher was accompanied by Katie Waissel as they arrived at rehearsals today
There have been fears for Miss Lloyd’s health after the stress caused by being in the bottom two.
She was so upset following the sing off in the results show that she missed the opening of the ITV2 spin-off show the Xtra Factor as she was comforted by producers.
Now, show bosses have called in an extra counsellor to help Miss Lloyd through the week, while Simon Cowell has been keeping in touch about her progress from New York, where he received a prestigious Emmy award on Monday night.
This week, the contestants will have to perform songs with a rock theme. But an X Factor source told the Daily Mail: ‘Cher is mentally exhausted, she’s having a terrible week.
Ready to sing: Mary Byrne - who is said to be fighting off a sore throat - and Matt Cardle outside the studios
‘She didn’t make it onto the opening of Xtra Factor on Sunday because she was a mess backstage, when she did come on she was still sobbing.
‘She doesn’t get on with the other finalists that much anyway, so she doesn’t have that many people to talk to.
‘Her mentor Cheryl tries to help, but now she is getting guidance from a counselor.’
The insider added: ‘Simon knows what’s going on, he’s being kept abreast of the situation. As he said on Sunday, he felt that neither Cher nor Paije should have been in the bottom two.’
Last week, judge Louis Walsh let slip that Miss Lloyd was not the perfect contestant, saying: ‘She’s as miserable and moody as she looks.
Battle heating up: Simon Cowell (left) and Louis Walsh will no doubt be arguing on TV this weekend
‘I’ve heard rumblings of what’s going on in the house - there’s a lot of parties.
Cher is definitely the out of control one. She causes a lot of trouble.’
Miss Lloyd, who comes from Malvern, Worcestershire, has suffered panic attacks throughout the show.
Earlier this month, she fled the X Factor house in North London in the middle of the night following a row with her fellow finalists – and went home to her parents Darren and Dinah, much to the chagrin of the other contestants.
At the time, a show insider said: ‘They think she’s become too arrogant and big for her boots over the last couple of weeks.
‘There was a heated bust-up and it all became too much for Cher. She had to get away from them and go and see her family.
‘The producers are aware of it, and they know how vulnerable she can still be at times.’
An ITV spokeswoman said: ‘Cher is doing everything that is required of her.’
Source:Dailymail