Why is frankie cocozza not in x factor

Cocozza's expulsion represents another acceleration in the rock life-cycle. Even in the recent past, a star singer or band usually lasted a few years before losing the plot and then their record contract. With The X Factor, Cowell got the gap between centre of attention and Jobcentre down to a few months.

In this case, the performer has compressed the events of a whole career — debut, fame, front-page scandal, sacking by label — into a few weeks. Such is the corrupted nature of celebrity now that, even despite his inability to sing, Cocozza, fuelled by notoriety, probably would be a reasonable commercial proposition for at least one album.

Surely even Cowell wouldn't have the brass neck to offer a recording contract to someone kicked off his TV show, but, given the narcotic history of pop music, it would be hard for Cocozza to be exiled permanently by this scandal. Like Jedward, the joke-irritant factor on the series, he may yet turn hopelessness into gold. More than a decade ago, Nick Bateman was kicked out of the first series of Big Brother for "breaking the rules" by cheating to gain advantage.

Subsequently, "Nasty Nick" proved to have understood the true spirit of the show. In the same way, Cocozza represents not an aberration from the standards of The X Factor but a perfect advertisement for them. While teenagers, in and out of showbiz, would be better off without cocaine, there is still a stench around what is now apparently the show's official code.

If you see him behind the scenes he's a good laugh. I hope the public can change their mind. He is a lad. He likes to go out and enjoy himself but he's also a hard working guy and a humble guy. It is unclear if anyone will replace Frankie Cocozza on this weekend's show although producers say they will make an announcement on Wednesday 9 November. The Risk: There is space for us. Rhythmix are renamed Little Mix.

X Factor Rhythmix to change name. Image source, Getty Images. And while the singer impressed the judges with his talent and made it through to the live shows, he was kicked off for bragging about his drug-infused lifestyle. Production staff were forced to fire Frankie after he was overheard discussing taking cocaine behind-the-scenes of the hit TV show.

He admitted at the time to "taking cocaine and using drugs" for "a couple of years" before the X Factor, telling The Mirror he was "really sorry". Now the star is a doting husband and father-of-one - and spends his spare time on the beach as well as with his new band. If you want to know more about where Frankie has found himself a decade after his rise to fame - we've got the lowdown.

After leaving the X Factor in due to his drug habit, Frankie was scouted for Celebrity Big Brother, and finished in second place in the ninth series. He went on to release music of his own, and his debut single Catastrophic Casanova reached an impressive number 19 in the iTunes charts.

He told The Mirror: "I have no regrets.