The X Factor: Brooks Way axed amid domestic abuse claims with another act confirmed to replace them

Fans are campaigning for Yes Lad or Four of Diamonds to make a comeback

Brooks Way's performance was pulled from Saturday night's The X Factor at the last minute (Syco/Thames/Dymond)

Brooks Way have been axed from The X Factor and will be replaced by another group.

The Welsh twins were forced to leave the ITV singing competition after singer Josh Brooks was accused of sending threatening messages to an ex-girlfriend, who also claimed he physically abused her.

The 17-year-olds were absent from the first live show on Saturday night after their appearance was pulled by producers at the last minute. Josh and his brother Kyle had been scheduled to perform as part of mentor Louis Walsh’s groups category before The Sun on Sunday published a report alleging that Josh had been involved in an altercation with his ex-girlfriend Amelia Clark, 18, at a New Year’s Eve party.

“A fight broke out between me and another male at a party,” Josh told the newspaper. “Amelia, along with others, tried to break it up. She was accidentally knocked in the process. It was never my intention to hurt her or put her in danger - and this situation is way out of my character.”

The decision for Brooks Way to leave The X Factor was decided “by mutual consent”, according to the show’s spokesperson, with Josh writing in a statement: “Due to events in my personal life I’ve decided that it’s best not to be on the show at this time. While not everything that has been claimed is true I would like to apologise to everyone involved.”

Brooks Way took to Twitter on Sunday to declare that “the truth always wins” and tell fans not to “believe everything they read”.

The Xtra Factor host Rylan Clark confirmed on This Morning that Brooks Way will be replaced, with the act rejoining the show yet to be announced. Fans are campaigning for Northern boy band Yes Lad to make a comeback, while others want girl group Four of Diamonds to have another shot after being sent home at the Judges’ Houses stage of the competition. Trio Skarl3t and duo Tom and Laura are also in the running.

Walsh’s novelty act Bratavio were the first to be eliminated from the show after losing to Finnish hopeful Saara Aalto in the sing-off. They had found themselves in the bottom two after failing to impress the public with their medley of ‘90s songs, which was condemned as a “musical horror movie” by head judge Simon Cowell, who cast the final vote and described the decision as “a guinea pig versus a racehorse”.

The X Factor returns to ITV on Saturday at 8pm