Olly Murs has apologised after telling a ‘X-Factor’ contestant they were eliminated, before the results had been revealed. Murs made the unfortunate gaffe during Sunday night’s live finals, where contestants Monica Michael and Anton Stephans went head to head.

Olly Murs Olly Murs has apologised after his ‘X-Factor’ mistake.

Michael and Stephans had just faced each other in a sing-off, but when judges Simon Cowell, Nick Grimshaw, Rita Ora and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini failed to reach a decision the show went to deadlock, meaning the public vote would decide the contestant's fate.

But before presenters Olly Murs and Caroline Flack had been handed the envelope revealing the result, Murs told Michael, "Unfortunately, Monica, you are going home I'm afraid.” Looking visibly confused, co-host Flack then told him: “No, she's not going home, we're going to deadlock”.

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Unfortunately for Michael, Murs' prediction came true and the singer was sent packing, as viewers vented their frustrations on social media. Some called for Murs to be axed for the gaffe, while others pleaded for Dermot O’Leary to come back as host.

Taking to twitter Murs apologised, writing: ‘I apologise to everyone tonight I made a massive f%#k up at the end. It was so tense!! I'm still learning & hope that never happens again!’ Murs originally found fame as a contestant on the show in 2009, before moving into presenting.

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But eliminated contestant Monica Michael also upset some viewers after her elimination. As the show ended the 25 year old appeared to make a gun gesture while shouting 'bang, bang, bang’. Many viewers branded Michael's actions 'inconsiderate' and 'offensive' in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.

On twitter Michael apologised, telling fans: 'I want to apologies for any offence caused on the @TheXFactor tongiht. I wasn't thinking beyond the moment & it was insensitive, sorry.’ Michael had originally been due to perform Nancy Sinatra's ‘Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down’) on Saturday night, but her song was changed at the last minute following the Paris attacks.