Last weekend Paul Akister left the X Factor, prompting some people to scream and shout about cheesemeister Stevi Ritchie still being in the competition because they don’t think he can sing as well.
And while Stevi may have found a friend and a few Harvester spit roast chickens in Simon Cowell, he also has a fan in the form of the show’s creative director, Brian Friedman.
He said: “I adore Stevi. I love him. You know it’s the same kind of feeling I had in the past with people like Jedward when they were on the show, except Stevi’s work ethic is just so on point.
“He puts in the time. You know sometimes he gets on stage and his adrenaline takes over and he loses his breath and he gets carried away with the girls around him, but I love that he’s there and he’s having the time of his life and he’s not taking it for granted.”
Modest Stevi has admitted he feels out of place remaining in the contest for so long while other great singers have left before him.
He tweeted: “Peeps thank you for your support and votes but I would like to say I feel terrible and guilty that great singers have gone instead of me.”