X Factor - Disco disaster

19 November 2007 - The disco-themed edition of X Factor has been labelled an "absolute disaster" by head judge Simon Cowell.

The fifth live show in the current series saw solo singer Alisha Bennett booted out of the competition, leaving Sharon Osbourne with none of her acts left in the final.

But disappointing performances and odd staging decisions led to Simon stating that he "wasn't in a great mood" because the 1970s disco premise was a disaster.

"My frustration was that nobody, including my own acts, performed their best this week," he said before spin-off Xtra Factor. "Everyone let me down. I've seen better performances."

The acid-tongued judge has also banned a forthcoming Motown-themed edition of the show for fear it will end up a misfire like the disco week.

Alisha was voted off after being placed in the bottom two with girl-band Hope, who appeared wearing some truly bizarre catsuits complete with MC Hammer-style pants.

While Rhydian Roberts' performance of Go West came complete with backing singers dressed as sailors, it was Alisha's rollerskating dancers that seemed to enrage Simon the most.

"It would help if you got people on rollerskates who could skate," the Sun quotes him as saying. "There was one point where they were all falling over you and then you sang out of tune."

Left in the competition besides Hope and Rhydian are brother-sister cheesy pop act Same Difference, soul queen Beverley, youngster Leon and Niki from the over-25 category.

© Adfero Ltd