X Factor branded a fix and viewers complain about Katie staying in

THE X FACTOR was in crisis last night as axed singer Treyc Cohen's dad branded the show "a fix".

Seething Fitzgerald Cohen, 68, angrily accused bosses of manipulating the programme to get rid of his 28-year-old daughter, who lost out to rival Katie Waissel.

More than 1,000 viewers complained to ITV and telly regulator Ofcom after Sunday's show - in which mentor Cheryl Cole condemned Treyc to the chop by refusing to cast her judge's vote.

Thousands more slammed Cheryl on websites and social networking pages such as Twitter and Facebook.

T

reyc's livid dad blasted The X Factor last night - saying: "It's not about singing, it's a freak show now."

He spoke as figures revealed sing-off rival Katie polled just a THIRD of the public votes Treyc won and would have been dumped instead had the outcome hinged on that.

The Sun can also reveal that under-fire Cheryl had a furious on-set row with a producer as he tried to pull her off stage in the wake of her voting gaffe.

Mr Cohen angrily accused Simon Cowell and other show bosses of manipulating the result to get rid of Treyc.

He said: "It's a fix. It's as simple as that. I have no idea why Treyc is out. She was easily the best singer and should not have lost to Katie.

"Lots of things happen behind the scenes so certain contestants are kept in.

"The show is not about singing, it's a freak show now.

"I think Treyc has been let down by Cheryl. She knew Treyc was the better singer, but sat back and let her go.

"She knew she was already one down after Simon voted for Katie, but refused to balance the score. There should be an investigation into why Cheryl was allowed to refuse to vote."

Even mild-mannered Treyc, from Tamworth, Staffs, criticised "drama queen" Katie.

She said: "I haven't watched the performances back, but Katie crumbled. I think I was the better performer. If it's a singing contest I should still be there."

A massive 16.7million viewers, the ITV show's second-highest rating ever, witnessed Sunday's amazing scenes.

Cheryl, 27, abstained when asked to choose between Treyc and Katie - both her acts.

Simon and Louis Walsh voted to send home Treyc and fellow judge Dannii Minogue decided to axe Katie, 24.

Had Cheryl also voted to send Katie home, she would have levelled the score, resulting in deadlock and allowing the public vote to decide.

But host Dermot O'Leary explained the judges' 2-1 majority vote would stand, meaning Treyc had to go.

Hundreds of fans in the London studio audience yelled "fix" and "get Katie out" as Girls Aloud star Cheryl looked close to tears.

The beauty sat with "a face like thunder" as distraught Treyc was told she was out.

And she was further angered when a producer grabbed her hand and tried to pull her away from the set.

Onlookers said she screamed: "Oi, get off. Where are you taking me?" as the man motioned her to the side of the stage.

One said: "He was saying she needed to come round the back of the stage to then go back on the stage to say farewell to Treyc. But she snapped his head off and the guy looked very bemused.

"Eventually he explained and she went - but she had a face like thunder the whole time."

Katie, who had a meltdown during her sing-off performance, survives on the show to compete against rivals including Wagner, One Direction, Mary Byrne and Aiden Grimshaw.

Dermot yesterday defended the vote, saying: "I know everyone will think conspiracy but I wouldn't be part of that. It's just how it played out."

Last night an X Factor spokeswoman said Sunday's bizarre episode was above board.

She said: "A judge can abstain from voting. Cheryl made it clear she would not send anyone home. She was unable to take the vote to deadlock as deadlock requires a valid active vote."