Telegraph: X Factor: Cheryl Cole and Whitney Houston draw record ratings
Cheryl Cole and Whitney Houston drew a record audience to The X Factor with nearly 15 million viewers making it the most watched episode in the history of the show.
By Anita Singh, Showbusiness Editor
Published: 1:09PM BST 19 Oct 2009

Cole performed her debut solo single, Fight For This Love, while Houston made her UK comeback with new single Million Dollar Bill.

Ratings peaked at 14.8 million, beating last year's final in which 14.6 million watched Alexandra Burke crowned The X Factor winner.

Although her performance was billed as "live", there were suspicions that Cole was either miming or singing over a backing track for parts of the song.

Viewers were divided, with some claiming she had done well but others being less charitable. "She should have sung live on the live show. It destroys her credibility completely and the credibility of the show," a fan wrote on The X Factor website. "What gives her the right to criticise others if she can't do it herself?"

Others claimed Cole was a hypocrite for wearing a revealing top similar to one worn by a member of the girlband Kandy Rain, who were voted off the show after Cole criticised them for dressing provocatively.

Simon Cowell proved himself to be Cole's biggest fan, telling the Girls Aloud singer: "It's really going to pain me to have to say this, but that was incredible. That was an incredible routine, great performance and unfortunately you're going to be number one next week."

Whitney Houston suffered a wardrobe malfunction during her performance, when the strap of her silver dress came undone mid-show.

"I sang myself out of my dress," she joked.

Viewers were unimpressed by her vocal talents and post-performance interview with host Dermot O'Leary. Many fans on The X Factor website also complained that Houston was rude and unsupportive to the contestants when they sang for her during rehearsals.

NEWSFILE: 19 OCTOBER 2009