Cowell 'tried to stop Lloyd in sing-off'

X Factor judge Simon Cowell tried to cut short Lloyd Daniels's sing-off performance last night, a report has claimed.

Viewers saw 16-year-old Daniels struggling through a rendition of 'You Are So Beautiful' after he joined Rachel Adedeji in the bottom two yesterday. His mentor Cheryl Cole had explained that he was suffering from a sore throat.

According to London Lite, Cowell made a "throat-cutting" gesture to a producer during the performance, indicating that he wanted the young hopeful to stop singing. However, Lloyd went on to finish the song as planned.

A source said: "It was uncomfortable to watch, and Simon must have wanted to end his torment as he made the finger-across-the-throat gesture. Luckily for Lloyd, the show went on and he stayed in."

Last night's episode was the first time that Daniels had been in the bottom two. Adedeji had faced the sing-off on two previous occasions.