X Factor 2011 UK

Nu Vibe Dream Ends

Boyband Nu Vibe have become the first X Factor act to fall victim to the public vote in this year’s competition.

The five-piece band, put together by judge Tulisa having entered the contest as solo artists, sang a dance version of U2’s With Or Without You on Saturday night’s show – but that wasn’t enough to ensure their survival.

They ended up in the bottom two of the 12 acts, with Frankie Cocozza, after judge Gary Barlow told them their lacklustre performance had “no vibe”.

A last-ditch performance of former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole’s Promise This failed to win the hearts of the judges, who preferred Frankie’s song – Red, by Daniel Merriweather.

Their mentor was the only one who wanted to keep them in the competition after they sung for survival. She appeared tearful after the voting session, and asked by host Dermot O’Leary why they had not won enough votes, replied: “I’m not sure. All I can say is that I believed in them.

“I took a chance and they worked hard, they gave everything. I can’t say what went wrong because I can’t see it.”

The band thanked Tulisa, and the other judges, and vowed they would stay together.

Louis had been the last judge to vote, and said he chose to send Nu Vibe home because he saw “the most potential” in ladies’ man Frankie.

Another act mentored by Tulisa, The Risk, were the first to learn they had made it through to next week’s show, a decision welcomed by the other judges, who nodded their approval.

They were followed by teenager Janet Devlin, who bravely took to the stage on Saturday while mourning her grandfather, who died last week. Biscuit factory worker Craig Colton hugged a number of the other contestants after his name was read out, but the most exuberant reaction came from Johnny Robinson, who squealed and put his hands over his face before jumping up and down.