LAST night’s nail-biting X Factor was hard to watch for fans of Worcestershire’s Cher Lloyd.

Nerves and a throat infection saw the 17-year-old struggle to perform in front of judge Cheryl Cole and record producer Will.i.am. The Malvern Link youngster, a bookies favourite to win the ITV talent show, broke down in tears.

Cheryl encouraged her to come back later for second attempt, but Cher declined and said: “I’m done now, I’m done”.

Earlier in the show she had blamed her sore throat on “really bad nerves and practicing a bit too hard”.

Millions of people will tune in tonight to watch the former Chase High School and Dyson Perrins High School student perform a second audition at the judge’s house - and find out if she has made it through.