Tom Bleasby Quits The X Factor UK 2015 After Six-Chair Challenge Controversy

By Nick Roman ·

Just two weeks from the Judges' Houses, The X Factor UK 2015 finalist Tom Bleasby has chosen to withdraw from the competition, citing "personal reasons", according to the official statement from The X Factor.

Bleasby had made judge Nick Grimshaw's final six Boys after a dramatic Six-Chair Challenge, which saw Tom getting eliminated, and then brought back when the audience rebelled against the decision. And it's no surprise, since he quickly became one of the most popular contestants in the competition after his stunning first audition aired.

During the airing of the Six-Chair Challenge, Bleasby addressed his anxiety while live-tweeting.

However, he remained positive in the aftermath of his choice to withdraw.

Bleasby would even go on to retweet a message of support from mentor Grimshaw.

Tom Bleasby Quits The X Factor UK 2015 For 'Personal Reasons'
Credit: SYCO/THAMES TV/PA Wire

No decision has been made about whom, if anyone, will replace Tom in Nick's Judges' Houses performances, which were set to be taped any day now. Of course, Nick had a pretty strong category for the Boys, so he could bring back one of the people he eliminated in the Six-Chair Challenge. As a reminder, they are: Brodie Kelly, Danny Sharples, Jamie Eldridge, Jordan Luke Gage, Martin Harich, Mason Noise, Nathaniel Landskroner, Ollie Marland, Papasidero, and Tom Davies.

Personally, it's probably outright insanity to do this, but I would actually bring back Mason Noise, the massive jerk who gave a stunning performance and then went on to disrespect the show, its producers, editors, judges and even the audience with his cringeworthy, mic-dropping onstage meltdown. I hate the notion that bad behavior would be rewarded like that, and the audience might actually rebel against him if he were to get through to live shows, but I feel like this season doesn't have a beacon for controversy, which leads to the feeling that this is a fairly boring, straightforward season so far. I don't think Simon would ever allow Mason to come back though, so my guess is that Ollie Marland or Jamie Eldridge comes back, since both men gave solid performances that hinted at more than they were able to show.

But what do you think about Tom's withdrawal? Who should take his place? Should there even be a replacement, considering the strength of Nick's category? Sound off in the comments!

And for more on The X Factor UK 2015, find out which boys Nick put through to judges' houses (with performance videos) right here!

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