The X Factor, Sunday 8pm, ITV1

Posted by Jim Holmes

Following last night's soft-rock masterclass, the nine remaining X Factor contestants were tonight reduced to this series' final eight - after Rachel Adedeji was given the boot.

Beginning with an ensemble performance of Aerosmith and Run DMC's 'Walk This Way, the stage was set for US hair metal veterans Bon Jovi to unveil their new new single, 'We Weren't Born To Follow', to the rabid live crowd. (To read a review of the track, and to download it, head here.)

Next up, X Factor alumnae JLS showed why they became such a success on last year's shows - reeling off an effervescent performance of their new track 'Everybody In Love', the follow-up to their former No.1, double Mobo award-winning single 'Beat Again'.  

After Rachel and 16-year-old Lloyd Daniels were identified as the two acts who had gathered the lowest number of public votes, the pair were forced to sing for survival.

Rachel delivered a stunning rendition of Oasis's 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out', while Lloyd - noticeably hoarse due to a throat ailment - struggled with the high notes of the Joe Cocker classic 'You Are So Beautiful'.

The four judges split their votes equally between the two acts, so the decision fell back into the hands of the public. After surviving two previous sing-offs, it wasn't a case of third time lucky for Rachel; receiving less of the original public vote than Lloyd, she was duly given the boot despite her vastly superior performance tonight.

Supporting her clearly distraught protégée, Rachel's mentor Dannii Minogue said: "Everyone who came in to perform on the show adored Rachel.

"I don't know where it went wrong. I'll be banging my head against the wall tonight."

Did Lloyd deserve to stay in the competition? Had Rachel outstayed her welcome? Backing John and Edward to win? Let us know your thoughts on all the acts by posting a comment below.

To hear the tracks as they should have been sung, head to the Music Store now to browse our huge catalogue of songs.

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