The News of the World today reports that Simon Cowell’s right-hand woman Sinitta warned Cheryl Cole to “lay off” Danyl Johnson amid fears he may experience a Susan Boyle-like breakdown.

The article states that Sinitta described Cheryl’s behaviour towards Danyl last week as “quite hideous.”

It also reckons that in her anger at the way Danyl was being treated, Sinitta called Cheryl a “smug Little Miss Cheryl Tweedy-pie.”

After last weekend’s performance and harsh criticism from Cheryl, it seems a tearful Danyl was comforted by Sinitta who roundly defended the singer.

“What people saw as arrogance was actually Danyl putting on a massively brave face.

“People couldn’t handle the fact he was going to tough it out and get through it no matter what.

“But it was all too tough for him in the end. He was overwhelmed and nearly exploded…

“He’s had all the Susan Boyle-type hype and people were going crazy about him. Then he’s had to put up with being vilified and told he’s more hated than Hitler.

“That’s very difficult to take for a young man who has been celebrated then turned against.”

And Sinitta added that she felt judges Dannii and Cheryl were “ganging up” on Danyl. She said, “The girls started ganging up on him. It was like a little tea party.

“I thought they were going to get their knitting out and have a cup of tea together.

“Simon and Louis were on the ends with their hands in the air, saying, ‘Hello! Can we get back to the show?’ It was necessary to get back focus.

“I love Dannii on the end though. She’s fighting her corner now and wants to get in there. It’s a different dynamic.”

Well her words seem to have done the trick because both Dannii and Cheryl were complimentary to Danyl last night, and quite rightly too. He was clearly back on form but I just wish he hadn’t been forced to get so down in the first place.

Great to see him back to A1 standard last night though!