Cowell accused of Jamie conspiracy

Simon Cowell has been accused of conspiring against Jamie Archer in the run-up to Saturday night's X Factor.

According to The Mirror, Archer's friends believe that Cowell stitched the rocker up because he knew he was likely to lose an act in Queen Week.

A source close to the singer is quoted as saying: "The whole show is being made a mockery of. Simon was the only judge with all three acts left - he knew he had to lose someone this week and so he offered up Jamie.

"It doesn't take a genius to see how he did it. He stuck him first on the bill which is the worst place to be. He made sure he dressed him in dark clothing so it all looked very drab with no colour.

"And he gave him a very average Queen song in 'Radio Ga Ga' and left him there on the stage on his own. There was no production, no backing singers, no choirs, no pyrotechnics like the other contestants had."

Archer was voted off on Sunday after finding himself in the bottom two with Lloyd Daniels. Danyl Johnson and Olly Murs are the two remaining acts left in Cowell's Over-25s category.