SINGING sensation Cher Lloyd has survived to sing another week on X Factor, despite some criticism from Simon Cowell.

Another strong performance on Saturday’s show by the 17-year-old was a hit with most of the judges but Cowell said he was “a little disappointed” with the unoriginality.

However, it was Treyc Cohen who lost out on the public vote and left the show last night, leaving Cher to fight another week.

Former Dyson Perrins High School pupil Cher covered hit song Empire State of Mind, originally by US rapper Jay-Z with vocals from Alicia Keys, to huge cheers from the crowd.

But Mr Cowell criticised her mentor Cheryl Cole for being “lazy” on this week’s show, themed on American anthems.

It followed a star performance of the Shakespeare’s Sister hit Stay the previous week, when Cher, of Malvern Link, blew the competition away in “the performance of the entire season”, according to Mr Cowell.

Judge Louis Walsh said: “As Simon said the week before, you stole the show last time. You’re singing and you seem comfortable on that stage now. I love the styling – you’re going to be in the final.”

After Cher’s performance in a stunning long black dress last week, she returned to her trademark urban chic with a pink hoodie.

Judge Dannii Minogue “really loved” the performance, saying: “You seemed so fresh and the singing continues to be right for you. I really loved it – incredible. It’s very hard to top last week’s performance but I really loved it.”

But Simon Cowell said: “Any other week I would call that an incredible performance but after last week I’m disappointed and I’ll tell you why.

“Last week was 100 per cent original and to be honest this week it was a little bit copycat, and I’m not blaming you.

“All I’m saying is that in the standard of the competition this year, to make the finals knowing what’s coming [later in tonight’s show] you’ve got to be more original and your mentor got a little bit lazy.

Cheryl Cole disagreed, saying: “Absolutely not, perfect balance. What’s obvious is you’re comfortable when you do rap, when you sing, differing your direction.

“I want to say a massive thank you to the people supporting you out there.”

And Cher didn’t seem to mind Mr Cowell’s comments, saying: “I appreciate what’s been said. You’ve got to have something else to back you up.”

Her dad Darren, who was in the audience, said Cher was still enjoying the experience. He said: “She’s fine, she’s still up on that cloud.”

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