The phone lines close at around 8:20pm every week. Where did you get 8:45 from? They start announcing who's through at around 8:30pm (after an ad break, and the lines are closed at the beginning of the previous segment).

Oh yes he did.

They closed at 8:25PM like every other week

Try reading the thread in future- he didnt give it at the normal time.

You've missed a whole part out- the charity VT and performance.

They alwayys close at 8:25

How can you say something didn't happen on the show when you turned over to another channel and didn't watch it all?

It's always going to depend on how the show is scheduled. this week the contestants performance which is normally at the beginning of the show was moved to highlight the charity single.

There was definitely the 5 minute warning with the clock countdown displayed in the backscreen of the stage. It made perfect sense to do it when they did or otherwise the 5 minute warning would have to have been after the ad break and therefore the lines would have closed after the results were scheduled to start,

They have to allow a couple of minutes between the lines closing and announcing the results so they can ensure the lines are cleared. If not we start getting the "I couldn't get through" complaints.

As I recall it went Jesse J finished, 5 minute warning given, ad break, lines closed announced, charity song, results.

Also to actually worry about them closing a few minutes early when they've been open for just under 23 hours is a failing on your part and not an issue with the show.

BTW last night on Strictly, Tess said the lines were open until about 8:45 but when it was displayed on the screen it said 8:40. And there's no 5 minute warning there. I thought that was more of an issue and more confusing than X Factor.

Lines are ALWAYS closed during the last performance before the results are announced.

Yes, he did, or the same time as last week at least

In the past the judges have said they are only judging on the sing off performance tonight Louis and Tulisa commented they were taking Saturday nights performances as well, which for me moved the goal posts, which is wrong. We had Kitty told she had been in the bottom enough and was time to go as she was not connecting with the public, so why was Misha not given the same critique and sent off home? there are double standards here that stand out a mile. And if the lines did in fact close earlier than normal then why was that? It would seem that one FM here can even give the time he/she switched over?

Actually I did not think either judge said Misha had performed better not in the sing off, if they did I misunderstood what they were in fact saying then.

You might be right, it just seemed different tonight. Maybe because the group performance is usually first.

Dont care anyway, the bottom two was spot on and hopefully Misha goes next week.

They probably closed the lines earlier than normal because the group song wasn't sang at the beginning tonight, as it normally is! The Make a Wish video followed by the song was longer than 5 minutes so they wouldn't of been able to do the 5 minute warning/lines now closed.

I don't think there was anything sinister about it

I really wonder what you are up to. I can only conclude you're another trouble maker. The lines never close as late as you've tried to make out. As others have posted they shut around 8.25pm as they do each week.

And as you don't vote, it's obvious you don't pay attention - from another thread .....

Dermot did give the 5 minutes warning AS USUAL.

AnotherBox, you sound like a proper smug piece of work.

I have my doubts on Misha going next week, she should have gone this week, bottom 2 now 3 times and still there, so for me they are saving her at any cost.

Maybe the charity single made things different this week, but for us here it just seemed a bit odd, and I only asked if anyone else had noticed, or what time they normally close.

Hopefully next week no bottom 2 at all, and the public get out who they want.

To the person who mentioned having 23 hours to vote, fine, but you know even a few minutes if the voting is very close can change things around a to who is in the bottom.

I didn't think he did at all.

Fortunately, I wasn't asking you.

He wasn't asking you either

Me smug, just for quoting facts
I don't think so

I think you sound like the smug one.
Here's a conspiracy theory for you - judging by your join date and numbert of posts you could be a banned poster re-registering with different details

Oh who was not asking whom what?

Their reasons change from week to week and always have, even when Simon was on the panel. They clearly felt Misha was good enough to not be concerned with the public connection (and I say that as a kitty fan). And maybe lines did close earlier than normal, although it seems we are talking mere minutes. No one can predict where the next few minutes votes are going to go. For arguements sake lets say Janets votes were building five minutes prior to the lines closing, doesn't mean they would continue to do so if there were another 5 minutes. Theres no science to it, its a random process. Janet left fair and square. It was actually one of the tidiest exits of this series and widely predicted given Janets unfortunate performances.

I was told that nobody asked for my opinion, I just pointed out to that person that nobody asked for theirs either!

There reasons to my knowledge have never been about the performance the night before, it has always been done on the sing off and future potential maybe.

None of this lot will fill arena's in my mind anyway.

Just watched (skimmed through) the last three results shows on ITV player and Dermot announced the 5 minute warning at the same time in every show, and he did announce it today after he spoke to Jessie J.

No conspiracy here, move along......

Yes, I heard and saw Dermot give the 5 minute warning too.

Maybe they do close different times each week, but as long he gave the warning, I guess it's valid.

Thanks for your interesting reply on my 'Janet's Departure - I'm In Two Minds' thread by the way. I replied with my thoughts .