Cheryl Cole: If I was watching I'd vote for the twins

While Simon Cowell leaves us in no doubt of his views on X Factor twins John and Edward, fellow judge Cheryl Cole has taken a more sympathetic approach.

Woman of taste? Cheryl Cole

The 26-year-old, left, says she can't blame people for keeping them in the running each week, adding: "I feel bad for them because of the booing. And their family is in the audience. I couldn't sit there while my brother was being booed. You see their little faces crumple at the end of the show. I think if I was sitting at home I'd pick up the phone and vote for them."

Will John & Edward cause the death of X Factor?

The Geordie reckons Simon is being "really competitive" this year because she mentored last year's winner Alexandra Burke, adding: "He keeps putting my acts down."

Simon? Competitive? Surely not.