14:45 08 October 2012
Britney Spears was once again moved to tears when the 60 remaining X-Factor contestants had to be whittled down to the last 24.
This played out during the exciting second night of Boot Camp in Miami, Florida, as the contestants were pitted against one another in the duel round.
To highlight the stakes, Cowell said: “On this task forget about friendships, forget about nerves, it's one on one. By the end of this task there will only be 24 acts left in this competition. This challenge is actually very simple - just be better than your opponent.”
What moved Britney to tears the most was Jordan Shane, a 15-year-old school girl, who wept onstage after blundering during her song and realising she may have blown her chance on the show.
Britney said, as quote by the Mail Online: “I don’t like that she’s crying. It makes me want to cry. I don’t want to cry.”
Britney, as well as the rest of the judges, were impressed with some of the acts, too. The former child stars, Britney and Demi Lovato, couldn’t help admiring Carly Rose Sonenclar and her partner Beatrice Miller, both of whom are 13.
Britney was less than impressed with girl band Sister C though, who were teamed up with Lauren Jauregui, a 16-year-old soloist. Spears comment was – as reported by the Mail Online - “I think Sister C’s annoying” to which Demi agreed.
Britney, however, was apparently scared after Vino Allan, a tattooed 40-year-old musician, walked off the stage looking disappointed in his performance.
Two other hopefuls forgot their words, 540-lbs wheelchair bound minister Freddie Combs and Jessie Bryant, 28, from Houston.
The popular US show runs alongside Britain’s current X-Factor show that will return this Saturday for the second week of live performances.
The UK’s first live show on Saturday saw a hesitant decision from Louis Walsh on the results show on Sunday, that concerned which act would be sent home from the competition. Country singer Carolynne Poole left the show after Rylan Clark survived deadlock.