Hampshire's singing superstar, Tom Mann and his boy band Stereo Kicks made it safely through to next week as they continue their bid for X Factor glory.

The TV talent show’s theme this week was Michael Jackson v Queen.

The group narrowly avoided exiting the show last weekend thanks to public support but Tom, from Chandler’s Ford, and his bandmates were in good spirits going into the show at the weekend.

However there was high drama last night when the dreams of Paul Akister were shattered as he was eliminated from the talent show.

The 25-year-old from Lancashire was left holding back tears and struggling to speak after the judges were unable to choose between him and Jay James in the sing-off.

Akister was voted off by the public and his mentor Mel B was left gobsmacked by the decision, saying: “Are you kidding me? He is incredible. That is wrong.”

After being left in the bottom two, Akister had the audience in raptures with his touching version of Emeli Sande’s Clown, before former Royal Navy officer James left Simon Cowell apparently on the verge of tears with his rendition of Eric Clapton’s Tears In Heaven.

Simon and Louis Walsh, for once in agreement, voted to send home Akister while Mel and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini showed female solidarity and opted to do away with James.

Their impasse meant the decision was handed back to the public – for the second week in a row – and Akister, who last year lost out at the judges’ houses stage, was left broken-hearted after receiving the fewest votes.

After the sing-off Mel said: “For me this, based on what we have just heard right now, it’s an absolute no-brainer. Paul you sang your heart out with such feeling, and what a song.”

Simon said it was the best sing-off there had been so far, and that he was “slightly surprised” that it was Akister and James in the bottom two.