Gary Barlow walks off X-Factor after Carolynne Poole was sent home

Gary Barlow called the show’s elimination outcome an “absolute joke” before storming off stage...

The controversial decision that sent X-Factor Carolynne Poole home and saved Rylan Clark on Sunday was met with criticism, not least of all from judge Gary Barlow. In fact, the Take That singer felt so strongly against the decision following Poole’s stunning sing-off performance that he stormed off the stage. 

All this played out after judge Louis Walsh, who initially wanted to save Carolynne, changed his mind and opted to save Rylan leading the decision to a deadlock. 

With fellow judge Nicole Sherzinger predictably voting to save Rylan, her act, Barlow opting for his contestant Carolynne, and Tulisa Contostavlos also voting for Carolynne to stay, Louis Walsh had the final vote. 

In the end, Rylan received the most votes from the public, which meant that Carolynne became the first of the contestants to be booted off this year’s X-Factor. 

Barlow left the stage as soon as the decision was revealed, in an act that suggested his disgust the chain of events and this brought gasps from the audience. He did not wait to hear what Carolynne had to say, but took some time to criticise Rylan, from Essex, for his poor performance. Rylan also left the stage shortly after that.

While other judges were not as harsh, they all agreed that Carolynne’s performance was visibly the better performance.