HARROW singer Adam Burridge needs the public's vote to keep his dream of winning The X Factor alive.

The 23-year-old, who lives with his family in Walton Avenue, South Harrow, failed to convince Boys' mentor Nicole Scherzinger to choose him as one of the three acts from the six-strong category to automatically go to through to the live finals which start this coming Saturday.

She told him: "Your tone is awesome and you have an awesome recording voice. And you really commit to your performances but I'm not always sure I am able to connect to you."

He thought his time on the prime-time programme had ended until, as viewers saw on yesterday's show, it was revealed that each of the mentors could select one performer from their category to go into a Wildcard public vote to clinch the 13th finals spot and Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole picked Adam.

The second Harrow-centric act in the competition,  the quirky trio M.I.T.S.O.T.U., missed out in advancing in the Groups category and were not given a Wildcard reprieve by mentor Louis Walsh.

The Irish boyband manager told dancers James Collins, 22, of The Drive, North Harrow, and Jimmy Essex, 23, of Moelyn Mews, Harrow, and hospital admin assistant Holly Cooper, 23, from Kent: "You're great dancers, you've got great style, and I loved your first audition. 

"The vocals worry me, guys. They're good but their not great."

Despite Holly telling Louis they would not let him down, he had to kick them out of the competition, saying: "It wasn't an easy decision. Guys, it's not good news. I'm sorry. You're going home."

James said afterwards: "This is not the end, trust me."

Adam, a former student at Earlsmead Primary School in Arundel Drive, South Harrow, and of Queensmead School, in South Ruislip, is up against Christopher Maloney from the Over-28s category, Amy Mottram from the Girls and Times Red from the Groups.

He used to work as an advertising sales rep for newspapers including the Observer.

Host of The X Factor, Dermot O'Leary, will announce which of the four acts has won a place in the final at the beginning of Saturday's show at 8pm.

To see how to vote for Adam at xfactor.itv.com/2012/vote