Irish Phil brands X Factor 'biased'

Belfast boy Philip Magee was voted off X factor last night after losing out to Chico Slimani in a 'sing-off'.

14:28 30 October 2005

Belfast boy Philip Magee was voted off X Factor last night after losing out to Chico Slimani in a 'sing-off'.

But the 21-year old branded the show "biased" and said he paid the price for Simon Cowell's revenge on fellow judge Louis Walsh.

Simon shocked the audience when he performed a massive U-turn by choosing former stripper Chico, 34, instead of Philip when the two got the lowest scores in the public vote.

The high-waisted music mogul told the TV audience: "I'm going to save the person the public want to see and that's Chico." He had earlier slated Philip by comparing his performance of Johnny B. Goode as "like Shakin' Stevens at someone's wedding".

But Philip, who was mentored by Louis, said he thought the real reason for Simon's decision was to get his own back on the former Boyzone manager, who has previously voted off two of Simon's groups - Addictiv Ladies and 4Tune.

Philip, from Larne in Northern Ireland, fumed: "I think it was my best performance. It could have been revenge against Louis. I think it should go down to a public vote or an audience vote at the end.

"It all goes to one judge. It is very biased. Simon criticised everyone but he has his own acts."

But he saved praise for his rival Chico, despite critics claiming that the former goatherd cannot sing.

Philip, an Elvis fan, said: "I think people underestimate Chico. He's a nice guy and a good singer. He's very quiet in the house we are living in.

"He's also very spiritual. He's a practising Muslim and is observing Ramadan."

Philip predicted that ex-binman Andy Abraham, who he has become close friends with, had the X factor and would win the show.