Insiders have revealed that X Factor bosses have hired a qualified counsellor to help the remaining finalists through the stress of being on the show.

“Morale among the contestants has taken a big nosedive after last week’s surprise eviction,” a source told the Daily Star Sunday. “Everybody thought Futureproof were safe, so to see them go has really put the fear of God into the other finalists.

“A lot of them have been really struggling with the pressure and the fear is that they’re not strong enough to handle it. They now have a counsellor on hand 24/7.”

The mother of Alisha Bennett has claimed that she is very worried about her daughters wellbeing after receiving a number of emotional phone calls:

“I am worried for health. She is struggling under the pressure and I think it is starting to get to her,” Sharon explained. “I speak to her almost every day on the phone and a few times she has been in tears. Being in the bottom two for the first two weeks really knocked her confidence.”