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X Factor contestant Jade Ellis says Gary Barlow was wrong to question her hunger to remain in the competition.

Following a sing off the Take That star voted in favour of boy band Union J.

"I don't know what else I could have done," she said. "I've left my six-year-old [daughter] at home for the past God knows how long.

"I think he obviously just saw something in Union J he thought was lacking in me but maybe he's looking for something different."

Jade Ellis who was mentored by Tulisa, who also believes her exit from the show was a result of tactical voting.

"I do think that at this point in the game most judges do want to keep their acts in," she said.

"I think that the judges were quite critical of other people's acts so there may be a little bit of game playing going on."

Jade, 26, is still waiting to hear if she's been selected to take part in the X Factor live tour scheduled to start in January.

She's tipping 16-year-old Ella Henderson to win the competition.

"I'm absolutely in awe of Ella," she said.

"She is amazing. Vocally-wise she is outstanding."