The X Factor has saved someone's life. No, really.

You know those little heartwarming/moving stories they always show on the X Factor to encourage us to like the contestants, and perhaps distract us from the fact that it can be really rather boring until it gets to the live shows (and sometimes even after that?). Here's the best one yet...

Would-be contestant, Jacqui Gray, was seen on last week's show, singing 'Something Inside so Strong'. "You have a very odd-sounding voice. Something happens to your throat when you sing," said Simon Cowell. "It's quite raspy. It sounds as if you have someone else in there. It sounded like you were choking on something."

Cowell, seconded by Sharon Osbourne, advised Jacqui to seek medical attention, and it's a good job he did, because she turned out to have potentially fatal bronchiectasis. "They really did save my life," said Jacqui. Simin Cowell, my hero...