X Factor: Lloyd Daniels breaks down and threatens to quit the show

By Sara Nathan
Last updated at 9:41 AM on 24th November 2009

He has had to sing for his survival twice and the stress of the X Factor has now become so great for Lloyd Daniels that he has threatened to quit the show.

The Welsh 16-year-old, the youngest contestant on the ITV programme, broke down in tears following the Sunday night show, after judge Louis Walsh said he should have been voted off.

He told producers 'I'm going, I can’t carry on' backstage at the studios in Wembley, North London.

Emotional: Lloyd Daniels on Saturday night's X Factor show - the next night he threatened to quit

Lloyd’s comments came after Walsh angered Cheryl Cole following Sunday night's results show when he said he was shocked that the young singer was not in the bottom two acts, adding: 'I can't believe Lloyd is still here.'

Walsh said he was surprised that it was not Lloyd, who Cole has been mentoring on the show, competing with Jedward to stay in the competition  - instead of popular Olly Murs.

Speaking on ITV2 spin-off show, The Xtra Factor, Walsh said: 'I thought it would have been Lloyd in the bottom two because he's been there, like, three times. Olly did not deserve to be in the bottom two.'

Cole, 26, immediately hit back after he made his comments, shaking her head as she said: 'So you've said, about five times. It's just rude, it's just rude.'

Walsh replied: 'It's honest. I believe in freedom of speech.'

A show insider said: 'Lloyd was in a terrible state after the show. It has got a bit too much for him. Being told that you belong in the bottom two is devastating for any of the contestants and Lloyd is really young.

Angry: Judge Louis Walsh said he was shocked Olly was in the bottom two, while Llloyd remained in the show

'Also, when he was not put into the bottom two, the audience started booing loudly, which is a lot to take on for a young lad.

'He will be OK, he just had a knock on Sunday night and the pressure is really on. After all, there’s only three weeks left on the show.'

Lloyd was the bookmakers' favourite to get the boot to secure the survival of Jedward,  but his furious grandmother Joan Morgan said: 'I’m so pleased for Lloyd and think he really deserved to go through and not be in the sing-off as he really improved this week.

'But what Louis said was mean and totally unnecessary.

'Lloyd is only 16 and still developing as a singer. I thought he was more confident and comfortable this week. The judges said so.

'I really think he could make it to the final.'

Cole and Walsh were not the only ones to fall out. Simon Cowell accused his fellow judges of unfairly criticising his act Danyl Johnson.

When a viewer called in to suggest that Danyl was lacking confidence, Dannii Minogue replied: 'I don't think it's about confidence at all.'

Cowell immediately shot back: 'It doesn't help when you three are giving him mixed messages. As a general rule you have made him lose his spark. I'm blaming you three.'

Walsh replied: 'You've done a lot worse. I think if you spent more time with your acts they would be better.

'You could help them more and give them some of your confidence.'

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