Chris Is NOT Getting The Sympathy Vote Say X-Factor Bosses

The X-Factor is hotting up after Sunday's Quarter final left Chris, Union J, James Arthur and Jahmene Douglas left to battle it following Rylan's exit after singing in the bottom 2.

Simon Cowell's act, Christopher Maloney has allegedly come under some stick, with people saying he's getting the sympathy vote next to the prodigious talents of his competition, but this is something the show's bosses have moved to nullify. "The backlash is working for Christopher," a source told The Sun."The more people say nasty things about him, the more votes he gets. The feeling now is the less said about him the better." Xtra Factor host Caroline Flack said she thought people were voting for the singer. She said: "I think what's happening is people are feeling sorry for him. And that perhaps might be why people are voting -- but people are voting." However, X-Factor bosses reject that appraisal.

Elsewhere, Rylan admitted that judge Gary Barlow has no ill-feelings towards him; "Every week Gary gives me a massive cuddle and tells me how well I've done. He does like me," he explained. "Gary has single-handedly kept me in with the whole 'me and Gary' situation. I have so much love and respect for the man and I look forward to working with him. What happens in that studio stays in the studio and he's been amazing. If the opportunity arose for us to do some work together I think we'd both jump at the chance."