'I was missing my family too much': Goldie confirms X Factor departure and claims it was due to homesickness

I'm out: Goldie has blamed her X Factor departure on homesickness

X Factor contestant Goldie Cheung has finally confirmed she has left the X Factor, but has denied her departure was because she was fed up of being a 'joke act'.
Instead, the 48-year-old Tai Chi instructor claimed it was homesickness which caused her to drop out of the show after making it to the live finals.
In an official statement, Goldie thanked the ITV programme for putting her through and said she was sad to say goodbye.
She said: 'I have decided to withdraw from the competition because I knew I would miss my family so much. I wish all the finalists the best of luck and look forward to watching them every week.
'The X Factor has been a fantastic experience and very challenging for me at times. I was very grateful to Louis for offering me a place in the final, however.'
Louis Walsh, who is this year mentoring the Overs category which Goldie was part of, added: 'It was such a shame Goldie had to pull out of the competition, I thought she had great potential to entertain viewers in the live shows.

Eccentric: Goldie has caused much hilarity with her unique performances on the show

Come here, you! In last night's show, Goldie was seen chasing judge Gary Barlow for a kiss

'But it has given someone else an amazing opportunity and although it was a hard decision of who to replace her with, I am pleased with my choice.'
It remains to be seen which of the axed acts will be given a second chance in the show's live finals when the judges' houses shows air next weekend.
It was previously reported that Goldie had decided to quit the show because she was conscious that she was being treated as a 'joke act' by the judges.

She came a long way: Goldie with the other Overs contestants, Jonjo, Samantha, Jonny, Kitty, Carolynne, Terry and Joe

A source said her decision to leave was triggered by discussions with her husband, David Webb, 52, who used to work for Chris Patten, the former British Governor of Hong Kong. Mr Patten is now chairman of the BBC.

Following a series of conversations with her husband, Hong Kong-born Ms Cheung concluded she was being used by the programme as a figure of fun – like last year's tone-deaf act Wagner Carrilho – rather than a serious contender.
Goldie's exit came as the programme was forced to replace Sian Phillips, another of the finalists, because she had served time in jail for affray.

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