Simon Cowell has admitted that he would like to have axed X Factor singer Shirlena Johnson back on the show.

Shirlena was seen on Saturday night’s show, singing a bizarre version of Duffy’s Mercy, in which she strangely chanted and spoke more than she sang. Simon Cowell told her she was ‘absolutely mad’ and compared her performance to a ‘musical exorcism’ but liked Shirl enough to send her through to bootcamp. However, the music mogul was forced to cut Johnson earlier this week when doctors reports suggested that she was too fragile to handle the pressures of fame.

In response to viewers who were calling for Shirley to be reinstated to the ITV show, Cowell told The Sun:

“Thank you so much to all of you for your support of Shirlena.

“It means a lot to her and I feel the same as many of you.

“I’m very fond of her and she shouldn’t give up performing.”

But Simon added that he had to take the medical advice he has been given and because of that, can’t let the mum of one return. He said:

“At the moment it seems our hands are tied and I’m very upset for her.

“I really wish we could do something to change things. I know she wants to make a better life for herself.

“I don’t want this to be the end of Shirlena and The X Factor but we can’t find the solution at the moment because of the advice we are being given.

A source said: “Simon really adores Shirlena and is upset this has happened.

“He’d love to find a way to bring her back but for now there seems to be no U-turn.

“Shirlena’s best interests are at heart in making this decision. No one wants to take a risk for her and her family.”