Series heartthrob Matt Linnen was voted off The X Factor in the nail-biting semi-finals on Saturday night.
The 29-year-old, who belted out The Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter, found himself in the bottom two with The Cutkelvins but just missed out on a place in next week’s final.
The hunky Essex plasterer winced as he joked that he was ‘so close’ but promised that him leaving the ITV show ‘was just the beginning’ of his music career.
Farewell: Series heartthrob Matt Linnen was voted off The X Factor in the nail-biting semi-finals on Saturday night
Matt said after learning his fate: ‘So close! I’ve had loads of fun I wish you all the best of luck, especially my boy Kevin.
He added: ‘This is only the beginning, it’s not the end so it’s cool.’
The remaining contestants are Grace Davies, Kevin Davy White, Rak-Su, Lloyd Macey and The Cutkelvins.
However, Dermot O’Leary revealed at the last second that there are only three places in the final – meaning two people will be voted off on Sunday.
‘So close: The 29-year-old found himself in the bottom two with The Cutkelvins but just missed out on a place in next week’s final
Earlier in the show Matt gave an insight into his ‘naughty’ past as a teenager.
He admitted: ‘If I met me when I was 13 id give me a big slap around the face because I wasn’t a very good boy and I hadn’t found music then – and that’s my calling in life.’
Matt, who has three sons with three different women, was later surprised by his son to celebrate his birthday.
Getting emotional, he hugged his son and spoke to him in Spanish, later revealing: ‘It was amazing to see my boy, i don’t get to see him often, he lives in Spain.’
Man of the hour: Next up was series hunk, Southend-born plasterer Matt Linnen, who belted out The Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter
Exciting: His mentor Nicole was clearly impressed with the show and said passionately: ‘Your voice, I love the texture, I love the husk’
The 29-year-old belted out The Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter, but was met with a mixed reception from the judges.
‘I think you could have picked a much better song. You’re good, the song was all wrong,’ Louis moaned – to deafening boos from the crowd.
Simon scoffed and said: ‘I disagree with you because I love the song. Halfway through you got your confidence up. You’ve got guts, your ballsy, I like you and I hope you get through.’
Cheeky: Touching on her trademark phrase, she continued lustfully: ‘It’s got balls and it’s got hair and it’s got teeth and it’s coming at us!’
Cover your ears! Simon burst out laughing and looked shocked, pretending to cover Nicole’s mouth after her X-rated outburst
Right then: Dermot chuckled and quipped: ‘There it is! She’s finally been possessed’
Nicole added passionately: ‘Your voice, I love the texture, I love the husk.’
Touching on her trademark phrase, she continued lustfully: ‘It’s got balls and it’s got hair and it’s got teeth and it’s coming at us!’
Simon burst out laughing and looked shocked, pretending to cover Nicole’s mouth after her X-rated outburst.
Dermot chuckled and quipped: ‘There it is! She’s finally been possessed.’
Taking centre-stage: Kicking off the show were Scottish siblings The Cutkelvins, who stormed the song with their original song Nothing Like You
Impressive: The only act of the weekend to take on their own tune, the trio were met with gushing praise from the judges for their jaunty dance track
Kicking off the show were Scottish siblings The Cutkelvins, who stormed the song with their original song Nothing Like You.
Speaking about the bold move, they revealed their late musician father, who died of a heart attack, spurred them on to write original material.
Shereen said: ‘Watching our dad write original songs inspired us to do our own.’
Jay added: ‘Our original has to hold our weight against everyone else, who are doing David Bowie and The Rolling Stones.’
Loved it: Sharon said: ‘You had the whole place jumping. The song was great, a really big risk you took but it paid off. I think you guys are so much more into it when you do your own material, well done’
On their feet: The judges gave the siblings a standing ovation as the group were met with thunderous applause from the audience
The only act of the weekend to take on their own tune, the trio were met with gushing praise from the judges for their jaunty dance track.
Sharon said: ‘You had the whole place jumping. The song was great, a really big risk you took but it paid off. I think you guys are so much more into it when you do your own material, well done.’
Simon added: ‘I thought last week was good, I thought the song was better this week and this was the best performance you’ve done throughout the whole competition.’
Dreamy: Next up was Grace Davies, 20, who applied her breathy vocals to David Bowie’s Life On Mars
Ethereal: The Blackburn native, who is second favourite to win the show at 3-1, left the judges impressed, with Simon declaring: ‘This will take you to the final I’m sure of it’
Next up was Grace Davies, 20, who applied her breathy vocals to David Bowie’s Life On Mars.
The Blackburn native, who is second favourite to win the show at 3-1, left the judges impressed, with Simon declaring: ‘This will take you to the final I’m sure of it.’
Nicole added: ‘I love your make-up, you’re giving me the whole Sch-sparkle, unicorn vibes. I loved your performance because it was understated and simple.’
Good look: Nicole added: ‘I love your make-up, you’re giving me the whole Sch-sparkle, unicorn vibes. I loved your performance because it was understated and simple’
Following on from Grace was Rak-Su, who grooved to Flowers by Sweet Female Attitude.
Sharon said: ‘Every time you perform you are so up, it’s infectious what you do. I must say I prefer you doing your own songs. You make everybody feel great.’
Nicole told the Watford-based group: ‘Rak-Su live and in full colour, that was very vibrant and trippy and cool. You guys take us somewhere every time.’
Simon added: ‘You’re game-changers, you’re coming in you’re making your own decisions, You’re not puppets. I pray to God that you’re in the final next week.’
Rak-Su’s performance comes after their odds at winning the show were recently cut from 4-5 to 4-7 by bookmakers Coral after a flurry of bets.
Here come the boys: Following on from Grace was Rak-Su, who grooved to Flowers by Sweet Female Attitude
‘Infectious’: Sharon said: ‘Every time you perform you are so up, it’s infectious what you do. I must say I prefer you doing your own songs. You make everybody feel great’
Energetic: Nicole told the Watford-based group: ‘Rak-Su live and in full colour, that was very vibrant and trippy and cool. You guys take us somewhere every time’
Next up was Welsh singer Lloyd Macey, who belted out Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John.
Despite being struck down with laryngitis, a chest infection and a throat infection and told not to perform, his performance earned a standing ovation from the judges.
Simon said: ‘That was a really great performance. You voice sounded great, you look good, this is what I like about you Lloyd – you’re a fighter.’
Nicole gushed: ‘Lloyd I know you’re sick, I’m sorry I have to break it to you, that was my favourite performance of yours so far.
Stealing the limelight: Next up was Welsh singer Lloyd Macey, who belted out Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John
Big fans: Despite being struck down with laryngitis, a chest infection and a throat infection and told not to perform, his performance earned a standing ovation from the judges
Not holding back: ‘It got sloppy it got dirty, I loved it because it came from a different place. It came from your soul, it came from your gut,’ Nicole purred
‘It got sloppy it got dirty, I loved it because it came from a different place. It came from your soul, it came from your gut.’
Standing up, she added lasciviously: ‘And you know where else it came from.’
Louis admitted: ‘Lloyd I didn’t think you were going to make it today. We got the doctor an hour before the show, it was hit and miss.’
Touch and go: His mentor Louis admitted: ‘Lloyd I didn’t think you were going to make it today. We got the doctor an hour before the show, it was hit and miss’
Words of support: Host Dermot O’Leary gave Lloyd a hug after the Welshman admitted how nervous he was about singing with a throat infection
Closing the show was smooth crooner Kevin Davy White who rocked out to The Beatles hit Come Together, strumming away on an electric guitar.
Simon praised: I forgot we were in a competition, it was like we were at your concert. You have this genuine charisma, this raw star quality. You’re exciting.
Nicola gushed: ‘You turned this studio into a stadium tonight. You’re a trailblazer, there’s never been an artist like you on this stage. That is how you shut down the semi-finals.’
While viewers voted for their favourite act, the audience were treated to a performance from 2012 winner James Arthur’s new song Naked.
Speaking after his performance, he said: ‘That was the first time we’ve ever done it on TV, thank you everyone.’
Discussing the anxious position the semi-finalists are in, he added: ‘I don’t envy these guys right now, it’s a very nerve-wracking time!’
His proud one-time mentor Nicole then jumped onto the stage to join him and gave him a massive hug.
Revealing she watched his sold-out performance at Wembley the night before, she gushed: ‘I’m so proud of you babe, I love you.’