Celebrity X Factor’s Martin Bashir admits Olivia Olson should have stayed in the competition

Martin Bashir has revealed he believes Olivia Olson should have stayed in X Factor: Celebrity.

The journalist, 56, faced off against the actress, 27, in a tense show on Saturday evening which also saw television host Ricki Lake being axed.

Despite Olson – who sang the impressive cover of ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ in Love Actually – winning praise from judge Louis Walsh, she was sent home by Simon Cowell after Nicole Scherzinger voted for Bashir.

During the first live show of the series, audience members could be heard loudly booing the decision as Olson sobbed on stage.

Now Bashir has revealed he feels Olson should have also stayed in the competition.

Speaking during the Pride of Britain Awards, he told the Standard Online: “It was really difficult. It was upsetting, she was clearly very, very upset.

“She’s an incredible person, a very gracious and kind person. She’s also a fantastically talented vocalist. 

“To be perfectly honest, she should’ve gone through. But we knew when we entered the competition, it wasn’t down to us. Simon Cowell made that decision. But I’m excited about going through.”

He added he had spoken to Olson since and said: “Her boyfriend’s here now. She’s obviously very disappointed. But look, I think I’ll probably be out next week anyway.”

Bashir hinted his song for next week was by one of the “greatest American vocalists of all time” but would not reveal who the singer was.

He added: “He died about 10 years ago. He had an incredible voice, I saw him twice when I was living in New York. 

“If I can sing his song at 100th of his performance, I think I might survive. It’s such a beautiful song and I think people would love to hear it, I just have to get it right.”

The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, will be broadcast on ITV on November 5th at 8pm.