Heaton defends Cheryl Cole performance

Michelle Heaton has defended Cheryl Cole for her live performance on Sunday's X Factor results show.

The former Liberty X singer and Celebrity Big Brother star told The Sun that Cole had definitely recorded live vocals for her rendition of new single 'Fight For This Love'.

Heaton said: "I don't know whether she pre-recorded it, but it was a live vocal, so technically it was live performance. She sounded good and her dancing was fabulous.

"There's a divide in opinion about how well Cheryl did but most of people criticising her are either jealous or haven't taken to Cheryl."

Ex-Steps star Lee Latchford-Evans added: "It's not to do with her performing skills or her talent, it's how to get herself out there and build the Cheryl Cole brand.

"She did as well as she could do. She's no Mariah Carey but she's a great performer and I thought the routine was fantastic."

Cole reportedly rejected claims that she would mime on the show, but a spokesperson later admitted that parts of the performance were lip-synched to a pre-recorded backing track.