Brooks Way leave X Factor after 'threatening messages' claims

Brooks Way have dropped out of The X Factor after one of the duo was accused of sending threatening messages to an ex-girlfriend.

The brothers were absent from the first live show on Saturday after their performance was pulled at the last minute.

Singer Josh Brooks said: "Due to events in my personal life I've decided that it's best not to be on the show at this time.

"While not everything that has been claimed is true I would like to apologise to everyone involved."

An X Factor spokesman said: "Following the allegations relating to Josh Brooks, we have decided by mutual consent that Brooks Way should leave the competition."

A new act is expected to join the show as a replacement for the Welsh twins.

The 17-year-olds, Kyle and Josh Brooks, from Penarth, were due to perform as part of Louis Walsh's groups category alongside the other 11 acts in Saturday night's programme.

The Sun on Sunday previously reported that Josh had been involved in an altercation with a girlfriend at a New Year's Eve party.

The singer told the newspaper: "A fight broke out between me and another male at a party. Amelia, along with others, tried to break it up. She was accidentally knocked in the process.

"It was never my intention to hurt her or put her in danger - and this situation is way out of my character."

Last night Bratavio were the first act to be eliminated from the show.

The duo - Bradley and Octavio - were given their marching orders after losing to Finnish hopeful Saara Aalto in the sing-off following the first live show of the series.

The novelty pair said they were "really proud" of themselves and "thankful" for the opportunity as they exited the ITV competition.

They had found themselves in the bottom two after failing to impress the public with their melody of '90s songs on Saturday night's show, which was condemned as a "musical horror movie" by judge Simon Cowell.

In the sing-off, they performed Yazz track The Only Way Is Up, while Aalto delivered a sensational rendition of Sia's Alive.

Judges Walsh and Sharon Osbourne each chose to save their own acts.

Osbourne - who celebrated her 64th birthday with a cake during the show - is in charge of Aalto in the Overs category.

Nicole Scherzinger praised both for their efforts in the sing-off but said she was opting to send Bratavio home.

Cowell cast the last vote and said it was like "a guinea pig versus a racehorse" as he sent Bratavio packing.

At the end of the show host Dermot O'Leary spun the X Factor jukebox to determine the theme for next week, and it landed on Motown.