Cheryl’s X Factor comeback was hijacked by a prankster – but did you spot him?

CHERYL’S X Factor live show comeback has been memorable for all the wrong reasons.

As the former Girls Aloud star talked to Dermot O’Leary about this year’s competition, viewers couldn’t take their eyes off a prankster behind her who appeared to be loving his time in the spotlight.

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Cheryl is in the audience to support her boyfriend Liam Payne who is singing his new track Bedroom Floor live on the show.

As Dermot O’Leary went down to talk to her, Cheryl stood up to greet him as the audience cheered.

But when she sat back down, the camera angle showed a man behind her who started pulling hilarious faces for the camera.

Cheryl had no idea what was going on and continued talking to Dermot, but fans at home were obsessed.

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One fan tweeted: “OMG the guy pulling faces behind Cheryl-Tweedy-Cole-Fernandez Versini is my new hero!!”

Another wrote: “That guy behind Cheryl knew he had one chance to become a timeless GIF, and he took it. We salute thee.”

A third tweeted: “THAT GUY BEHIND CHERYL I AM SCREAMING.”

A fourth added: “Did anyone else see that boy behind Cheryl hahahahaha!”

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This year’s live shows have been cut from ten to six with acts voted off on both Saturdays and Sundays.

In just one of many shake ups this year, Simon discourage novelty acts like Honey G, who came fifth last year.

Special tickets will allow audience members to “rub shoulders” with hopefuls in a special holding room before they even perform. It's not yet officially been announced how fans can get tickets.

The show is encouraging contestants to sing their own songs this year.

A source told the Mirror: "Simon knows he can’t change the format too much but one thing he and the contestants can change is what’s sung.

“If there’s lots of new material it could attract a new audience.”