The X Factor’s Saara Aalto has spoken out in concern for her mentor Sharon Osbourne, saying she’s worried the judge is struggling with the "stress" of the live episodes.
It was recently reported that show insiders are fearful for a "mentally exhausted" Sharon after a busy year which has seen her flying back and forth from the UK to America, and dealing with husband Ozzy Osbourne’s affair.
Fans have even spoken out, wondering if Sharon, who has struggled to remember Saara's name during the competition, had been drinking before the live shows due to her overenthusiastic behaviour, something she denies.
And now, Saara has told The Sun: "I love Sharon but I know the whole live show thing is a very stressful thing to her.
"I understand how someone might forget names, it’s OK. Sharon is a funny, funny person and I was like 'whatever, I need to sing now.'"
Sharon failed to introduce Saara correctly last week during the live show but the other judges suggested it was fellow panellist Simon Cowell who put her off by telling her the wrong name.
But Mrs Osbourne has also got Saara’s home country confused, saying she was from Norway rather than Finland.
Saara has put this all aside and says, if anything, it helps with her performances.
She explained: "After I heard, I was like 'I’m going to sing my heart out' and hopefully everyone will remember my name after that.
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"It made me more of a fighter - I was like 'OK. I’m going to show Sharon who this Saara is now.'
"So I’m going to be doing something very interesting and special this week - it’s not a typical diva some because I’ve been singing those ballads so much.
"This song is by Bjork called Oh So Quiet and it’s really different.
"I’ll be screaming and just having fun on stage. It’s really, really different but I’m very excited to do that number.
"I think with this song I’m able to show my personality much better because I am a bubbly and happy person and when you sing ballads you are not able to show that."
The X Factor continues tonight on ITV1 at 8pm.