Treharris’s Lloyd Daniels will be on the X-Factor next week after surviving a public vote.
The former Lewis School pupil was in the bottom two on Sunday night’s show, alongside Rachel Adedeji, after receiving the fewest public votes.
Lloyd was suffering from a sore throat and was hardly able to speak let alone sing. At one point he was seen to mouth “sorry” to mentor Cheryl Cole.
Judges Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh voted for Adedeji while Cheryl Cole voted for Lloyd.
Simon Cowell used his vote to back Lloyd meaning the fate of the singers rested on the viewers’ vote.
Tears rolled down Adedeji’s cheeks when she was told she had received the lowest number and was leaving the show.
She said: “Thank you to everyone who has supported me.
“It’s been amazing and I got to meet so many lovely people and work with great judges.”