Spanish singer voted off X Factor,Spears Is On A Whistle-Stop

Spanish singer Ruth Lorenzo has said buenas noches to The X Factor, after receiving the fewest public votes in Saturday’s live show.

The 26-year-old bowed out with a final rendition of Bon Jovi’s Always.

Britney Spears also took to the X Factor stage to perform current hit single Womanizer, in her first UK television performance in four years.

Earlier, all of the five remaining contestants sang one of Spears’ hits and an American classic.

Lorenzo said: “I fought with all my heart, with everything I had. And this doesn’t end here.

“This is the beginning of my dream.

‘Friend forever’

“All I can say is thank you so much. I never ever dreamed of this ever.”

Her mentor, Dannii Minogue paid tribute to the Spanish bombshell, saying she had “an incredible vocal”.

“She was the most beautiful person to work with. She’s going to be a friend forever,” she said.

Earlier judge Simon Cowell praised her “determination and effort”.

With the show down to its final weeks, Lorenzo was chosen solely by public vote.

Her exit means Diana Vickers, Eoghan Quigg, Alexandra Burke and boyband JLS have all secured a place in the show’s semi-final.

Burke, 20, is now favourite to win the show, after singing powerful versions of Spears’ Toxic and Beyonce’s Listen.

Simon Cowell told the Londoner her performance of the Dream Girls song was the “best performance of the competition”.

“You make me very proud to be British,” he said.

Spears is on a whistle-stop tour of Europe ahead of the release of her latest album, Circus, on Monday.

She wore an all black outfit, with hotpants, fishnet tights and knee-high boots during her mimed performance – which received a standing ovation from the judges and studio audience.

Afterwards she said: “I love being here in London, it’s awesome.”

She told the remaining contestants: “Good luck and just keep doing it.”

On Thursday she performed at an awards ceremony in Germany, where she was named best international pop star. On Friday, she sang on French TV show Star Academy.

Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus also appeared on this week’s X Factor to play her latest single, 7 Things.