Futureproof gained only one vote from judges, but Hope scored three

They lost a head-to-head battle with girl group Hope during Saturday's programme, with both acts having been mentored by judge Simon Cowell.

Cowell said he would let Hope stay as they had better "long-term potential".

Saturday's programme did not feature Emily Nakanda, the 15-year-old who withdrew when a video was released, allegedly showing her attacking a girl.

"This week, serious allegations about aggressive behaviour came to light involving one of our contestants," presenter Dermot O'Leary told viewers at the start of the show.

Emily Nakanda has "sincerely apologised" for her behaviour

"The producers have carried out a thorough investigation in conjunction with Emily's family, and this has resulted in Emily withdrawing from The X Factor.

"For the remaining nine acts the competition continues."

On Friday the teenager's mother, Louis Friberg, issued a statement saying Emily "regrets her actions".

But she stressed her family would not excuse behaviour which had let the show - and viewers - down.

'Poor song choice'

The climax to Saturday's programme saw Futureproof performing the Andy Williams song Can't Take My Eyes Off You, while Hope sang Madonna's Hanky Panky.

"There was one performance [that was] slick and energetic - the other was sloppy," said judge Louis Walsh. "The act I'm sending home tonight is Futureproof."

The five members of Hope are aged between 16 and 23

Fellow judge Sharon Osbourne stressed she did not want to eliminate either group. But deciding who would stay, she said: "I go for the girls - I love the girls. I have to send home Futureproof."

Dannii Minogue was more critical in her assessment of the night's renditions, telling the two acts: "I don't think either of you did a great performance, and I don't think the song choice for the boys was good at all.

"I'm going to judge it not just on tonight's performance but over the shows that we've done so far. The boys have always come up trumps, so I have to send home Hope."

It was left to Cowell to pick one of his two acts to leave the show.

"I'm going to make this decision on who I think has the best long-term potential, because I'm not going to judge it on tonight's performance," he said. "I'm going to send home Futureproof."

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Futureproof's members were Adam Chandler, Aaron Delahunty, Matthew Protheroe, Sean Rumsey, Richard Wilkinson.

The five contestants forming Hope were Emily Biggs, Phoebe Brown, Raquelle Gracie, Leah Lauder and Charlie Mole.

Meanwhile in the race for ratings on Saturday night, The X Factor lost out to rival show Strictly Come Dancing, according to overnight estimates.

The BBC One programme was seen by an average of 8.7 million viewers, with results announced in a separate Sunday show.