'X Factor' running order 'affects votes'

X Factor acts are more likely to be voted off if they perform near the beginning of the show, a new study has suggested.

Researchers at Cambridge University used data from 150 rounds of The X Factor and Pop Idol to see whether their running orders had any effect on weekly results.

Dr Lionel Page, who was one of the academics behind the investigation, said that no acts have been eliminated after singing last on the current series.

He explained: "In week one, Kandy Rain went out and they were second on, in week three Miss Frank left after being third on. John and Edward Grimes went when they were third on and Lloyd Daniels was voted out after being the second person to perform.

"If the show is about singing, it shouldn't matter if they were performing first or last. But it does."

Page continued: "We believe people tend to be biased when there is a sequence. You are influenced by the fact that you remember people depending on whether they were singing first or last. Memory can have a huge effect on how we judge performances."

The overall conclusion of the study was that acts are in the most danger if they sing second or third in the running order.