Yet another nerve-jangling night!

Tonight the lucky first five acts to hear they were coming back for next week's X Factor show were Voices With Soul, Cassie, Steve, Tabby and Rowetta.

Classical popsters G4 had to endure 3 minutes of ad-break agony before they knew they were safe.

This left 2 To Go and Verity Keays in the bottom 2. They had to compete once more on the gladatorial arena that is the X Factor podium.

2 To Go went first with a replay of Atlantic Starr's Always. Before singing, Emma Paine told Kate "...there were elements we thought we could have improved on, so hopefully we can now". It was a nice performance from the pair, safe rather than spectacular.

Verity followed and gave an impressive heartfelt rendition of Bette Middler's Wind Beneath My Wings.

It was now up to the judges...

Mentors Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh voted for to keep their protégés in the competition! (surprise! surprise!)

It was Sharon's turn to use the casting vote. After a deliberate pause she revealed "The person I'm sending home tonight is Verity."

Verity accepted defeat with her usual grace and hugged her competition. Tears came a little later. When Kate asked what she would remember most about the whole experience she told her it would be 'today'.

Verity wasn't the bookies' favourite (and we know she wasn't Louis') but she gamely went out there and gave it everything she had. She can certainly be proud both of her performance and of the way she has handled herself throughout the contest.

Click here for a full review of tonight's early show.  and find out what the X Factor judges thought about your favourites!