X Factor reject Lucie backs Stacey

X Factor reject Lucie Jones has backed Stacey Solomon to win the talent contest.

The 18-year-old - who was knocked out on Sunday, after judge Simon Cowell refused to make a call between her and twins John and Edward and put it to the public vote to see who should stay - performed in her hometown of Cardiff, and revealed she wanted Stacey to win.

Before performing for hundreds of fans, Lucie defended Simon's decision to take the vote to "deadlock", saying: "I don't really think it was a cop-out - he made the valid point he didn't think either John and Edward or I could win so if he had picked me over the others it would have been for the wrong reason."

ITV and broadcasting regulator Ofcom have received thousands of complaints about Simon's decision to back "Jedward" but Lucie said the public reaction was "bizarre".

She added: "I'm in the middle of it, it's all going on around me but it doesn't really get to me. I'm just watching it and it's quite funny, it seems quite surreal."

She denied Simon had allowed her to get the chop to strengthen the chances of his own acts, Danyl Johnson, Olly Murs and Jamie Archer. Lucie said: "At the end of the day, whoever wins signs to him and is his act so he makes the money. Whoever wins, he wins."

Lucie is now backing Stacey, the only contestant remaining in the under-25 girls category, mentored by Dannii Minogue.

She said: "I think Stacey will win, I want her to win. I shared a room with her and we got really close. I could speak to her about anything."

She added the highlight of the competition was her relationship with her mentor Dannii.