Gary Barlow gets his ultimate revenge! Jade Ellis is sent home from The X Factor after facing Union J in a shock sing-off

PUBLISHED: 16:27 EST, 28 October 2012 | UPDATED: 03:14 EST, 29 October 2012

Jade Ellis has been voted off The X Factor following a shock sing-off against Union J.

The 25-year-old single mum found herself in the bottom two alongside the boyband after dividing opinion among the judges on Saturday evening with her rendition of Sugababes' Freak Like Me.

And despite performing a near note-perfect version of Dido's White Flag in Sunday night's result show, only her mentor Tulisa Contostavlos chose to keep her in the competition.

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Giving it her all: Jade performs in the sing-off after facing criticism from Nicole Scherzinger on Saturday night

The single mum suffered with a sore throat last week but still took to the stage to perform, while Lucy Spraggan was given a week off this week due to illness, and automatically made it through to next week.

Although it is not known what is wrong with Lucy, she was seen out partying for Rylan's birthday a few days before the live shows.

When asked by host Dermot O'Leary to deliver her verdict after both acts had performed, Tulisa said: 'This is easy for me, that's my girl up there and she sang her heart out tonight.'

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But it would seem Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Gary Barlow didn't feel the same way, controversially opting to save Union J, despite their rendition of Pink's F***in' Perfect featuring more than its fair share of bum notes.

The dream is over: Jade Ellis was sent home from The X Factor on Sunday night following a shock sing-off against boyband Union J

Safe: Union J were saved by judges Nicole Scherzinger, Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh, despite their rendition of Pink's F***in' Perfect featuring more than a few bum notes

Perhaps choosing to extract his ultimate revenge on Tulisa following their 'fag ash breath' argument the previous evening, Gary told Jade: 'Jade, you're a phenomenal singer, you're incredible. But sometimes I worry I want this for you more than you do.'

Telling Union J they would be staying in the competition, he said: 'Guys, I have been tough on you because I'm a band member myself. It's been good, but it's not been exceptional.

'I can see the commitment, I can see the ambition in your eyes. I'm excited to see what's next from you.'

Nicole agreed, saying: 'Union J, through your performance, your work, you've proved yourself to me so I have to send Jade home.'

Emotional: Both Louis and Tulisa were visibly distressed to find their acts in the bottom two

Devastated: The Union J boys had a group hug after their sing-off performance

But she seemed confident of Jade's future in the record industry, telling her: 'Jade, you are a beautiful, beautiful young woman. You are a strong young woman who has been through so much.

You have one of my favourite voices in this competition and with a tone like that I know you're going to get a recording contract.'

Meanwhile, Union J's mentor Louis Walsh was emotional as he delivered his verdict.

Fighting back the tears, he said: 'Dermot, I'm the mentor for Union J, I love them and don't want to lose them so I have to send Jade home.'

Sing-off: Gary Barlow told Jade he worried she didn't want to win the competition enough

Taking the blame: Tulisa took full responsibility for Jade's exit from the competition, admitting she should have chosen a ballad for her again

Tulisa seemed to be taking the blame for Jade's shock exit from the competition.

She said: 'Maybe I should have pulled some more ballads out the bag... I apologise if it is my fault. The future holds big things for her.'

But Jade was positive about her time in the competition, vowing to continue with her musical aspirations.

She told Dermot: 'To me, it's just been amazing experience. I thank you guys for your critiques and my life starts here.'

Stoney faced: Tulisa is visibly upset when Jade is eliminated from the contest

Taking it in her stride: Jade was magnanimous despite her shock exit, losing out to Union J

Union J impressed the judging panel with their rendition of Beyoncé's Sweet Dreams the previous evening.

Nicole said: 'I thought that was absolute perfection. I thought it was brilliant because this week it's going to be crazy and you didn't need anything else. I love every single one of you - you stand there, you own it, you're honest - it was simple, it was beautiful.'

Louis added: 'I believe in this group so much, Union J fans please vote - the potential with you four guys is amazing.'

Divided: Louis, Gary and Nicole all voted to save boyband Union J, with only Tulisa wanting to keep Jade in the competition

But Jade divided the panel with her up-tempo rendition of Sugababes' Freak Like Me.

Nicole didn't pull any punches, saying: 'Thank God it's Halloween because that was frightening. I'm sorry, but I just didn't get it. I don't' know the energy. I didn't believe it and i felt like you were a little awkward up there.'

Tulisa argued back: 'I feel like everyone is forgetting about the themes that we have each week. Everyone learns along the journey and trying different things and she has taken a risk tonight by trying to dance and trying to do something different and I think she did really well with that.'

Over the moon: Rylan Clark was visibly shocked to have escaped the bottom two for another week

On a high: Rylan picks up mentor Nicole Scherzinger after hearing that he's made it through

But that was far from Tulisa's biggest argument of the night, with her coming to blows with Gary after she criticised the song he had chosen for his act Christopher Maloney, saying to him: 'Gary, how many of these eighties classics are you going to let him keep destroying?'

Gary, who had clearly been contemplating his response while Tulisa spoke, then said: ''I don't know what's offended me more - what you said or the fag ash breath!'

Party time: Jade heads out to Aura after Sunday night's results show to celebrate her time in the competition

Support: Alexandra Burke and Tulisa head to Aura in Mayfair to spend the evening with Jade

Sunday night's results show also saw the X Factor contestants perform a group rendition of Usher's Without You, while Robbie Williams and Fun also took to the stage.

After the elimination, Jade decided to go out and party instead of wallowing in her misery.

The singer headed to Aura in Mayfair where she was joined by mentor Tulisa and Alexandra Burke who partied with her until late.

Waving goodbye: Jade waves good bye to the fans as she heads home after a hectic night

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It's going to make me unpopular but I agree with Gary. Never once did she ever say how much she loves singing or how she has a passion for it. It was all about how much money she could make to buy a new house etc etc.

- Claire , Watford, 29/10/2012 07:52

Click to rate Rating 39

Jade is a lovely girl with a beautiful voice...very recordable, she will do well, someone will snap her up!

- crazydaisy , Kent, United Kingdom, 29/10/2012 07:49

Click to rate Rating 61

Last night proved the show in a fix. Each week they tout the "I have to make my decision based on that sing off performance" well they obviously didn't last night. Union J were rubbish, Jade was much better but probably less market friendly. Lets see next week if they make their decision based on the "sing off" suppose it depends who is up for being booted off.

- Chris , Falmouth Cornwall, United Kingdom, 29/10/2012 07:45

Click to rate Rating 66

This leaves her free to tour with nDubz on their comeback tour.

- StowTrini , London, United Kingdom, 29/10/2012 07:34

Click to rate Rating 13

They say this is a talent competition, yet Louis says he HAS to keep in Union J because they are his act, even though Jade is clearly better. Doesn't this just make this show a competition between the judges then?

- I Love Waffles.com , WafflesRUs, 29/10/2012 07:34

Click to rate Rating 35

Each year this show has a comedy act, JEDWOOD< WAGNER and now CRYLAN. These acts have been kept in, whilst other more accomplished singers are voted off. Its time to end this programme.

- rupert the officer , anywhere but here, 29/10/2012 07:34

Click to rate Rating 39

Be honest Jade was never going to win, she's a mediocre singer and she has a very nasal tone when she sings, she doesn't would blow you away. Compare her here to someone like Leona Lewis and there is no competition. Union J will keep the viewing figures up for the next few weeks, but there are only two real contenders, Ella and James Arthur.

- Me , Glasgow, 29/10/2012 07:33

Click to rate Rating 24

Jade marry me

- The normal 1 , Wish I was in thailand, 29/10/2012 07:30

Click to rate Rating 4

Sorry DM but it wasn't as exciting as you've tried to make it. In fact it was dull. The show do what they always do. Put a very popular act in the bottom two cos guess what??? The viewers didn't waste enough of their hard earned money voting for them. It's so, so jaded this show. I mean as if an earnest, good looking, dreamy, young boy band would be in the bottom two. It's an insult how they treat their viewers. We all know it's money driven. Even the pretend arguments with the judges are wearing thin. If they seriously want to annoy the hell out of the public, they're doing a grand job!

- Minnie the Minx , UK, 29/10/2012 07:30

Click to rate Rating 8

Ella shouts her way through everything and every song sounds the same .Jade is soulful and has a great tones to her voice .Nicole saw her as a threat to her muppets .How this yank can slag off a great singer like Jade and stick that muppet of on stage is anyone's guess .After last years car crash judge Kelly I love me Rowland it would have been great to have another British judge .Get rid of her !!!!

- iapple , nottingham, 29/10/2012 07:29

Click to rate Rating 34

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