Angry Cheryl Cole told friends last night that she had been “stitched up” by X Factor bosses who pressured her not to pick Gamu Nhengu.

But later on the show the Girls Aloud singer accepted full responsibility for sending Gamu out of the contest and said that it was her decision alone.

She told viewers: “I 100 per cent stand by my decision. I could not be happier or prouder. Each one of my girls have done me justice.”

But privately she has revealed to pals she was told by producers to pick Madonna lookalike Katie Waissel over Zimbabwe-born Gamu at the judges’ houses stage because there were “issues” over her visa.

Last night a friend of Cheryl said: “She has been made the fall guy in all this. Her decision came down to a choice between Katie and Gamu.

“She was struggling to choose between both girls as her third act.

“But at this point producers stepped in and told Cheryl there were concerns over Gamu’s visa and that for that reason Katie was the safer option.”

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