Lesbian Songwriter Brings UK X-Factor Audience to Its Feet: VIDEO

Lucy Spraggan, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Sheffield, UK, is the latest sensation to hit the UK X-Factor stage, and brought an audience to its feet over the weekend with a song she wrote about drinking called "Last Night".

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Spraggan is out and proud. She told The Mirror: “My mum loves gay people, she thinks she’s part of the cool club now...X Factor must do wonders for your love life. Girls do love girls with guitars.”

Britney Spears 'Shaken' as Former Duet Partner Comes Out as Gay at 'X-Factor' Auditions: VIDEO

Britney Spears was confronted by a blast from the past at auditions for X-Factor this week, Popcrush reports:

“I know him. We did a duet together 10 years ago,” said Spears to her fellow judges of  the contestant. So we did some serious journalistic digging and found out the contestant was none other than Don Philip, who recorded the duet  ’I Will Still Love You‘ that appeared on her debut album ‘…Baby One More Time.’ For the record, the song that kicks major butt…

Anyway, the audition took an emotional turn when Philip started to cry and told the judges that he’s gay. ”At the time I didn’t think I was worthy,” he said to Spears. “I didn’t think you thought it was okay that I am gay.” But our girl showed nothing but support, explaining that she thought it was “fine” that he was gay.

We imagine Philip made Brit a little uncomfortable during this exchange, though, considering a source said she was visibly shaken during his audition.

“She handled it unbelievably well and really stepped up to the situation,” said the source. “It was probably the most personal and emotional situation for her that’s happened so far on ‘X Factor,’ and she took it totally in stride in front of a live audience of thousands.”

View part of the audition (spoilery), AFTER THE JUMP....

MTV News adds:

Philip, a Miami, Florida, native who tried to ride the same late 90's teen pop wave that made superstars out of Spears, Christina Aguilera, 'NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, has spent the time since the duet grinding away at a music career that never reached the heights of his former singing partner. The one-time Jive Records star-in-the-making has sung back-up for Gloria Estefan and toured with Spears early in her career, and like "The Voice" singer Tony Lucca
 and Aguilera, maybe he was hoping that a reunion with his former pop pal would provide the boost he's been looking for.

X-Factor Cleans House: Steve Jones, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger Not Returning...

E! mops up the bloodbath:

Sources tell E! News that Nicole Scherzinger and Steve Jones aren't the only ones not coming back to X Factor next season. Believe it or not, Fox has informed Simon Cowell's longtime friend Paula Abdul she won't be needed for the series' next installment.

"She found out today," says a show source. "At this point, the only ones staying are Simon and L.A. Reid."

Another source confirms to E! News that both Paula and Nicole were not renewed, "Simon wants to take the show in a different direction," says the insider.

Steve Jones Axed from 'X Factor'?

Welsh stunner Steve Jones is getting axed as host of X Factor, UK's Mirror tabloid is reporting:

My source says: “Steve keeps saying that living in LA is a dream come true. He loves the weather and the women, and he loves working on X Factor – it’s just a shame that the US public has not warmed to him. He got terrible reviews from critics when he started and things haven’t got better. There have been mistakes and he just doesn’t seem to have the knack for dealing with contestants. The executives at Fox have already decided not to renew his contract and so, short of a miracle happening, it is pretty much a done deal that he will not take part next season.”

His worst moment came earlier this month, when Rachel Crow, 13, sank to the floor in tears live on air as Steve told her she’d been eliminated.

The host first crouched down, then stood around looking awkward after Simon Cowell and Rachel’s mother rushed on stage to console the distraught teenager.

Well maybe this will free him up to show off more of the talents that he does have.

Like the one he displayed on Ellen, which bears repeating, AFTER THE JUMP...

UPDATE: A rep for Jones denies the report: "There have been absolutely no conversations about Steve Jones leaving The X Factor. No discussions have been had and no decisions will be made about any contracts until the New Year."

'X Factor' Host Steve Jones Strips Down for Ellen: VIDEO

Ellen gave her audience an early furry Christmas gift by unwrapping X Factor host Steve Jones on her show. Jones, a former model, was happy to oblige.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Jones also talked about why he comes across as pushy on the show:

"I’m wearing an earpiece and there’s about five people screaming, ‘Shut Paula up. Shut her up now. Move on.’ I’m going to have hearing damage in this ear by the end of the series...I feel terrible because I feel on occasions I’m coming across as rude and abrupt and that’s really not me. I cherish every word that comes out of Paula...She just talks and talks and talks. Doesn’t she? Where is the off button on this woman? Off, next please. You know?”

Lady Gaga Wears Decapitated Corpse for 'X Factor' Performance: VIDEO

Lady Gaga and her headless friend performed "Marry the Night" on the UK's X Factor on Saturday.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

In related news, Gaga has cut ties with her longtime choreographer Laurieann Gibson, NY Mag's Vulture reports:

"Gibson had been a part of Gaga’s visual team since the singer’s beginnings at Interscope Records, but recent comments by Gibson to the media and a foray into reality TV have soured the partnership. Much of the strain seems to have originated from the production of Gaga’s videos: Gibson was audibly uncomfortable with the religious imagery of the video for “Judas”, demanding a conceptual compromise, and went on a Twitter tirade after Gaga fans reacted negatively to the production values of the video for “Edge of Glory”....Richard Jackson, who worked under Gibson, is now choreographing Gaga’s performances."