X Factor: Celebrity fans cry ‘fix’ after Martin Bashir was saved despite forgetting words to his song

MARTIN Bashir forgot the words to his song live on X Factor: Celebrity - but was saved when Simon Cowell refused to vote him out.

The news man, who went silent on stage, was kept in the show by the public after the judge let the public decide who to dump from the competition.

Instead, Corrie's Victoria Ekanoye and Jonny Labey were sent home.

It came after Martin, 56, stopped singing while attempting Lionel Richie's Easy, telling fans: "I've forgotten my words - I do apologise."

Martin, who famously interviewed Princess Diana and Michael Jackson, was left awkwardly swaying on stage while the backing singers carried on.

Looking devastated by his mistake afterwards, he told host Dermot O'Leary: "I'm not trying to make excuses but my song had to be changed very late.

"I had to learn my song this morning. I was working on something else.

"I've been anxious all evening and it just went out of my mind I'm afraid. I apologise."

He was comforted by Dermot, who said: "It's not the first time it's happened on this stage - and it won't be the last."

However, fans were not impressed by Simon Cowell refusing to cast his vote - meaning the decision was down to the public.

One raged: "X Factor is such a fix, how the hell did someone go through who lost majority of the lyrics to the song they were singing."

Another fumed: "It’s results like this that put viewers off. Cowell should have had guts and sent Martin home."

However, many fans were delighted, with one writing: "Martin Bashir forgets his words & sings terribly but still one of the best performances of the series."

Another sympathetic fan wrote: "Martin Bashir you are a legend even if you forgot your words!! Well done mate."