Rikki Loney has admitted that whilst he is devastated to have left the show, he does understand why the public saved John and Edward Grimes.

On hearing of Rikki’s fate, his mentor Cheryl Cole blasted the public for continuing to vote for John and Edward. However Rikki told The Sun:

“They are really, really entertaining. We all cheer for them backstage. They work so hard.

“Out of everyone, they’re the ones that rehearse the most. They are really focused and driven.

“They have got the thickest skin ever they are not fazed by anything anyone says about them. They just laugh.

“The public are voting to keep them in because they are being entertained. They have definitely got the X Factor.”