X Factor bosses have been left with the dilemma of whether or not to replace Lucy Spraggan following her sudden decision to quit the X Factor due to illness. What will ITV bosses do next? Metro examines five of the producers' options.
Lucy Spraggan has left the X Factor after being ill for two weeks - but who could replace her? (Picture: ITV)
The 21-year-old pulled out of the show on Saturday after it emerged she would need to miss a second week of the competition due to suffering from flu.
After missing last weekend's show and being given an automatic bye to this Saturday, she took the decision to quit - saying it would be 'unfair' on her fellow finalists to accept another free pass.
The move has left many wondering what producers will do to replace the singer, whose departure leaves mentor Tulisa with only one remaining contestant - 16-year-old Ella Henderson.
A spokeperson for ITV said Lucy 'will not be replaced in the competition', adding that this weekend's shows will continue as planned and that one act would be eliminated as normal.
Frankie Cocozza's X Factor experience was short-lived (Picture: ITV)
But, given the fact this is not the first time someone has quit mid-series - such as Frankie Cocozza, for example, who was sacked midway through last year's run due to his behaviour - the producers could take inspiration from previous series and find a way of replacing Lucy or making up for her absence after all.
Possibly in one of the following five ways:
1. Bring back an evicted act: This proved to be the magic solution in 2011 following Cocozza's departure, with producers bringing back the four acts who had been sent home by the judges in the very first week, and asking the public to vote for the one they wanted to see return.
Ultimately Amelia Lily won back her place in the competition over fellow hopefuls Jonjo Kerr, 2 Shoes and James Michael - and went on to finish third in the final and recently scored a top 10 hit with her debut single You Bring Me Joy.
If producers did this, it could potentially mean a second chance for Melanie Masson, MK1, Jade Ellis or Carolynne Poole - and the latter would certainly please Gary Barlow following her controversial departure from the show.
2. Bring back last week's loser: This, of course, would be the simplest and easiest solution - and viable since Jade Ellis was in the same category as Lucy Spraggan.
But would producers really opt for something so simple? There are plenty of other options, including voting back in a departed act, that would provide the opportunity to ramp up the tension (and possibly the viewing figures)...
Lucy's departure could be good news for Jade Ellis if producers decide to reinstate a finalist (Picture: ITY)
3. Replace Lucy with Amy Mottram: You might remember Amy as the sparky Essex teenager who narrowly missed out on Tulisa's final three, and she also had another shot as the 'wild card' act but lost out again when Chris Maloney won the vote.
Bringing her back would also make sense, given she was in the same category as Lucy and was on the 'substitute's bench', as it were.
However, reinstating her might be seen as a sleight on Jade Ellis - since the elder act was the one who made it to the finals in the first place.
4. Vote in another wild card: Of course, a more dramatic option than this could see Amy Mottram take her place on the stage opposite Times Red and Adam Burridge and allow the public to vote in another wild card to replace Lucy.
It might not have been a bad idea if Lucy had left in the first week or two, but bringing someone new in at this stage could be seen as unfair to those who have made it this far. Can't see it happening, somehow.
Emily Nakanda withdrew from the show in 2007 over claims she had been involved in a 'happy slapping' incident (Picture: PA/ITV)
5. Do nothing: Unless one of the other acts returns, this seems like the most likely option - as ITV have already suggested.
If they did simply carry on without Lucy and did not bring another act back in, it would mirror the case of the 2007 series when 15-year-old Emily Nakanda withdrew, after video of her allegedly involvement in a vicious 'happy slapping' incident came to light.
In that instance the series continued as normal without a replacement act and few people noticed the difference.
Had Emily stayed there may have been four acts in the final instead of the three that were there, but otherwise it made no difference.
In this instance, with the final on December 8, anybody who returns or joins the show at this stage would have just four weeks to make their mark, and it might not prove a popular decision for fans who have already voiced their displeasure at any suggestions of unfair treatment of the remaining acts.
Those who have already worked their way through the entire run of live shows would clearly be slightly irked.
But then this is The X Factor, and stranger things have happened...
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