IT'S been a tough week for X Factor contestant Robert Allen who was close to tears following Saturday's live showdown.

Despite delivering what appeared to be a top-notch cover of Abba's Take a Chance on Me, Robert found himself needing an SOS when he was placed in the bottom two after votes were polled.

And having already faced the pressure of an upsetting national newspaper story earlier in the week, the Barkingside man found the whole experience emotionally draining, leaving him unable to talk to presenter Kate Thornton on the show.

The usually upbeat Robert told the Wanstead Guardian: "Being in the bottom two did knock my confidence a bit. I was a little bit hurt. I am an emotional person, and I let my feelings show.

"Also I was so angry and upset about the News of the World article about my girlfriend and family, but my mentor said to me that the only way I can get my own back is to continue to shine in the competition, so that's what I'm going to do."

Robert's performance received mixed reviews from the judges with both Louis Walsh and mentor Sharon Osbourne praising him for being a "natural performer" and for "nailing it".

But the most controversial and perhaps most influential of the judges, Simon Cowell, accused him of sounding "30 years out of date".

And when Louis Walsh, who had the casting vote, decided to save Robert ahead of fellow contestant Ashley McKenzie following the singoff, Simon Cowell stormed out of the studios.

Robert said: "Simon is very competitive and he wants to win at the end of the day. But I still have a lot of respect for him.

"It was awful having to sing against Ashley who is a friend of mine. For a moment, I forgot it was a competition.

"But we are all in it to win it, and the talent here is very strong. We will all be voted off at some time."

For Robert, last week's upsets are already becoming a distant memory, with lots of work already being done for next week's show.

The 27-year-old believes his song for next week, which he is not yet allowed to reveal to readers, is the best one he could have chosen.

"On Sunday, I was still feeling a little down, but I'm now well and truly back into it, and I've got the perfect song for next week," he said.

"It's a ballad which I believe will show me to my fullest. If I go out of the competition this week, I'll just be glad that I've had the chance to sing this song."

The reality of being in the last seven of the country's biggest talent competition is slowly hitting home.

The house in which Robert lives with the other X Factor contestants is slowly becoming emptier, while the pressure on the singer is getting even more intense.

Singing live in front of millions of viewers on a Saturday night is a task in itself but the preparation that goes into it is immense.

Robert said: "It is much harder than I could ever have imagined it to be. It's not actually the singing side, but all the interviews and other things you have to do for the show."

On Sunday, the day after the show, the contestants begin working on the new song and routine for the next week, and then on Monday and Tuesday, they have vocal coaching, choreography and web chats.

Wednesday sees the contestants filming for the video clips, which are shown on Saturday's show before each of their live performances.

Then on Thursday, and Friday, they have sound checks at the studio, often from 8am to 11pm where they perform their songs three or four times. They also have a date with their stylist.

He said: "I have got people supporting me, which makes the journey so much easier.

"And my mentor Sharon Osborne is a beautiful lady. I won't lie to you, we don't see her oodles and oodles because she's a busy lady, but she often rings to check if we're ok."

Robert, whose background includes tap dancing and opera, is no stranger to performing having travelled up and down the UK in a gospel group called Continentals. He has also played at Stratford Town Hall, Stratford Circus, sang at the youth centre in Manor Park, and performed with the Jiving Lidiehoppers at the Kenneth More Theatre.

But the Xfactor experience has opened up whole new opportunities and experiences for him, including fan worship.

"Last week I went down to Boots in the West End to buy some aftershave, and someone spotted I was from the X Factor," he said.

"The next thing I know, lots of other people are coming over, and I'm having lots of photos done which was funny because I'm only Robert.

"But it was fine, it was a chance to give back some love to them."

Robert, whose musical inspirations includes Luther Vandross and Alexander O'Neal, said: "I'd ask Redbridge people to please vote for me as this has always been my dream.

"Utimately, I would love to become an international performing recording artist.

"It's a beautiful surprise to have got this far in the competition. I am glad I have got this far and I hope I go further. I'm in it to win it."