X Factor results: Stereo Kicks sent home after sing-off with Lauren Platt

Louis Walsh is left without an act in the competition

Eight-piece boy band Stereo Kicks have been sent home from the X Factor leaving mentor Louis Walsh without a single act remaining in the competition (Corbis)

Eight-piece boy band Stereo Kicks were sent home from the X Factor competition tonight leaving mentor Louis Walsh without a single act remaining in the competition.

Despite performing Jason Mraz’s “I Won’t Give Up” in the sing-off against Lauren Platt, the boys were kicked out of the competition on the strength of the public vote.

Judges Louis and Mel B chose to save Stereo Kicks, but after both Cheryl Fernadez-Versini and Simon Cowell opted to save Platt it went to deadlock, with the viewers’ agreeing with the latter.

Last night Stereo Kicks performed the first song they sang as a group, "Run" by Snow Patrol.

In the sing-off Platt performed “Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia, a song choice which was universally praised by the judges on last night’s show.

She said the song brought back "so many memories" of good times with her pals.

"You are the perfect little pop star," judge Louis Walsh said after Saturday's performance.

The youngest act in this year’s competition at just 17, Platt had been suffering from strep throat this week. Her mentor Cheryl described her as “a trooper” for performing this weekend.

“I’m gutted,” Platt said, when it was revealed she was in the sing-off. “And I’m especially gutted to be going up against my best friends.”

Jukebox night on Saturday saw the five remaining acts sing numbers chosen for them by pop stars including X Factor alumni Little Mix and One Direction.

Tonight’s show opened with a performance by Queen with American Idol finalist Adam Lambert performing vocals ahead of their combined stadium tour in 2015.

Singing “Somebody to Love”, they were joined by the remaining X Factor acts during the chorus. Asked by presenter Dermot O’Leary what advice Brian May would give to this year’s hopefuls drawing on his 43 years in the music business, the guitarist said: “Believe.”

Mel B’s act, Italian crooner Andrea Faustini, Simon Cowell’s acts Walthamstow lass, Fleur, and husky-voiced van driver from Croydon, Ben Haenow, were saved from the sing-off.

Faustini, who was in the bottom two last week, said it had been a serious reality check: "It was hard, but I think it made me realise I need to work even harder. I'm fighting."