Mel B upset at Paul’s exit from X Factor

Ousted X Factor contestant Paul Akister said his mentor Mel B was so upset about his exit last night that she had to flee the room after trying to console him.

The 25-year-old hopeful lost out to Jay James after landing in the bottom two over the weekend when the vote was taken to deadlock after judges could not agree on who they should keep.

Speaking about his exit yesterday, Akister revealed Mel struggled to deal with her own upset when she saw him in tears. He admitted: “I was gutted, crying like a little baby. I went to her dressing room and had a little chat after, but I couldn’t really speak much and she couldn’t really talk to me because Iwas in bits. So she was just hugging me and then she went because she couldn’t take it. It’s hard, but she’s been amazing.

“I’m going to keep in touch, as long as she wants to. I’ve got her number and she’s been texting this morning to say she’s been thinking about me. She’s really nice.”

On Saturday’s show, head judge Simon Cowell had implied that Paul had been argumentative and ungrateful behind the scenes, but Akister, who has insisted that was not the case, said they had buried the hatchet. He explained: “It’s his opinion on a person and (the judges) are allowed that.

Akister added that he had no hard feelings towards fellow contestant Stevi Ritchie who has remained in the contest despite not being one o f the stronger wannabes.