SIMON COWELL - FUTUREPROOF VOTED OFF X FACTOR

FUTUREPROOF VOTED OFF X FACTOR

Simon Cowell's X-Factor experiment in manufactured bands hit a wrong note last night as Futureproof exited in the third of the show's live finals.

Matthew, Sean, Richard, Adam and Aaron were up against fellow group Hope as the two least popular acts, leaving Cowell facing the inevitable exit of at least one of his acts.

Both Futureproof and Hope had been formed from rejected solo singers during the boot camp stage of the talent contest, taking the manufactured band concept to another convoluted level.

But their lack of votes guaranteed the exit of one of them last night and in the end it was the boys who were sent packing by the judges.

Cowell admitted he had probably made a mistake in their song, a version of Andy Williams' Can't Take My Eyes Off You, but ended their hopes anyway by telling them they did not have the best "long-term prospects".

Band member Aaron said afterwards: "There is a reason we are called Futureproof and we will back.

"We will be back and our album will be in the shops one day and you lot will love it."

There are now eight acts in the competition, after contestant Emily Nakanada quit the show amid tabloid allegations of her assaulting another teenager.