X Factor - Sharon Osbourne quits
22 October 2007 - Sharon Osbourne sensationally claimed she was quitting X Factor after two of her acts faced the chop from the show on Saturday night.
The 55 year-old mentor of the 14-24 year-old girls category was astounded that Kimberley Southwick and Alisha Bennett received the fewest public votes, minutes after her third act, Emily Nakanda, had been told she was staying.
During the live X Factor results show, Sharon announced "I'm out - gone."
Show host Dermot O'Leary told viewers: "Sharon can't choose between her acts. The final vote will be between three judges, as Sharon has decided to leave the night."
"Leave the show!" shouted Sharon back at him, leaving Louis Walsh to send Kimberley home after her performance of "It's Raining Men" received a mixed response.
Other reports suggest a bust-up with fellow judge Dannii Minogue led to Sharon's departure. Read the full story >
A spokesman for the show later said: "She was very upset last night. All we can say at this stage is that we're hoping she'll be back for next week."
Voted-off contestant Kimberley Southwick, from Tamworth, Staffs, said Sharon had been "great", but admitted she felt hurt that she was not more supportive during the live programme. Read about how Kimberley was voted off >
"I understand why she's so upset, but you know, I would have liked her to have held my hand a bit longer, and stayed on stage with us," she said.
"I think she just took it as a personal thing that it was me and Alisha in the bottom two."
Kimberley said she was unsure whether Sharon still planned to leave the X Factor, adding: "She did quit on air, but I haven't spoken to her this morning."
