The lovely and talented Maria Lawson was thrown off the X-Factor on Saturday, after Louis Walsh chose in favour of slightly ropy sub-Nolans The Conway Sisters. The two acts came last in the public vote, and were then both subject to a decision by the judges. Cowell voted to keep his own act, The Conways, Sharon voted to keep her act, Lawson, and self-styled King-Of-Pop Walsh got rid of Maria with his casting vote.
"I really think that the girls have a lot more to offer," Walsh said, which is funny, because he's been mostly critical of The Conways, and has waxed lyrical about the wonder of Maria pretty much every week. Sharon Osbourne thinks Louis chose to keep the Conways because they are Irish, and so's he. "I think this is a travesty. Maria is too talented to stop," she screeched. I didn't enjoy the screeching much, but concede that she is probably right. However, she later added: "It was the wrong song, she was way out of her comfort zone. It's a huge lesson for us and I take full responsibility for the song choice."
Simon Cowell, who looked very much like a man who wanted to get rid of his own act and keep Maria but didn't dare to, said: "This was a tough one. On talent she did not deserve to go out at this stage. This is the very first contestant where the public will think that that artist did not deserve to go. She was definitely judged on her song."