It was the semi-final of The X Factor and there was one performance that had everyone talking.

Fleur East took to the stage for her rendition of the Bruno Mars / Mark Ronson track Uptown Funk after a song change at the eleventh hour.

With a performance that had all the hallmarks of a superstar, Fleur is now being hailed as the British answer to Beyonce.

Matching her backing dancers step for step, she set the stage alight with an electrifying performance that was all funk and raw sex appeal.

Describing it as one of his favourite three performances on the show ever, the singer's mentor Simon Cowell said: "I can't take all the credit! Let this moment sink in because this is the moment when you turned from a contestant into a star. I don't know how many years I've been doing these shows – but that was in the top three of all performances I've seen."

Louis Walsh exclaimed: "It's the semi-final, I'm not surprised you're here. You've got everything, you tick every box: likeability personality, versatility."

Mel B added: "Wow. Who cares if we didn't know the song? You killed it. That was, by far, your best performance. You are a superstar."

Twitter too was in a frenzy, as established singing stars lavished praise on the X Factor hopeful.

Former auditonees One Direction, who were formed on the reality show and went on to become the biggest British boy band in the world, despite coming third, showed their support for the aspiring singer.

"Wow @FleurEast absolutely smashed it !! She stole the show . Everyone has to vote for Fleur ! Different class !" wrote One Direction's Louis Tomlinson.

"One of the best X factor performances I've seen in a long time well done @FleurEast HUGE!!!" tweeted Liam Payne.

Fleur East
Fleur East won over the public with her two semi-final performances. The X Factor / Facebook

This Morning's Phillip Schofield thought that it was a winning performance that would secure a place the final and even the X Factor crown.

"@FleurEast I think you've just won it! One of the best ever #XFactor performances," he said.

Emeli Sande, who had earlier selected one of Fleur's songs for the show wrote simply: " Yes Mama!!"

Fleur herself was overwhelmed by the reaction. Writing on Twitter she said: "WOW. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED. Thank you so much - wanna get to the finals now... Need your votes PLEASE!

Meanwhile, her version of Uptown Funk is soaring up the iTunes chart already.

"I can't believe I'm number 32 on iTunes!!!!! Ahhhhhh!!!!! Thank you so much xxxxxx"

The accolades come after a week of controversy for the stunning 26-year-old, after the show was hit by accusations of favouritism.

The Daily Star reported some behind the scenes tension between the remaining four contestants after Andrea Faustini, Lauren Platt and Ben Haenow reportedly complained that they believe Fleur East is being championed by all the judges, and is being set up to win the show.

A source said: "It's beginning to look obvious the judges want her to win. It may as well be called the F Factor - it's very unfair. It's been set up perfectly for Fleur to win."

The X Factor finalists will be revealed tomorrow (7 December) on ITV at 8pm.

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