Published Sunday, 14 October 2012
District3 and Melanie Masson awaits the results of the sing-off (© Rex Features)
The Take That frontman lost two acts in as many weeks after the 44-year-old mother of two ended up in the bottom two with Louis Walsh's group District3 and lost out in the public vote.
The judges praised the contestants for their "amazing sing-off".
Gary and Nicole voted to keep Melanie after she performed "Stay With Me" by Lorraine Ellison.
Tulisa and Louis chose to save the boyband who delivered a strong rendition of Bryan Adam's (Everything I Do) I Do It For You.
"Melanie, you have one of the most amazing voices in this competition" Tulisa said. "As for the lads, you have one of the most beautiful harmonies that I've heard in a long time in this competition."
"My heart is with the lads," she added.
But Nicole disagreed. "You are the oldest in this competition and I know you've been waiting for this your whole life and I felt it in that performance," she told Melanie.
Gary said he "was gutted" and "really disappointed" that the talented singer, who had described the competition as make or break, was voted off the show.
"For me Melanie is one of the best singers in the competition. I'm absolutely gutted for you," he said.
Melanie said: 'I've absolutely enjoyed every single second of being here. It's just been the best experience and I've loved every minute of it.'
Gary admitted he felt sick with nerves for his contestants ahead of the show.
It has been a bad couple of weeks for the X Factor judge, who famously stormed off the stage following the controversial axing of Carolynne Poole.
"Get that camera out of my face," he growled last week, as he stomped his way backstage after his act lost out in the public vote to flamboyant contestant Rylan Clark as Louis sent proceedings to a dramatic deadlock.
He later took to Twitter to admit he had been struggling since the show. "Been hard to get motivated," he tweeted ahead of the second live show.
He later explained: "Sunday night was a disaster. To be honest, I'm having problems looking at Louis at the moment, let alone talking to him."
On Saturday night, Gary and Louis shook hands to put their near week-long feud behind them. But tensions were soon soaring again between the two judges.
Meanwhile, controversial Essex act Rylan, who tease Gary over the feud during his live performance, jumped with joy as he was safely voted through to next week's show.
"I called you a taxi just in case, Gary," the cheeky Essex lad smiled on Saturday night.
"That's funny 'cause I've had yours on hold for two weeks," Mr Barlow shot back. Better make it three weeks, Gary.