By Owen Tonks

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She's sailed through the live shows with enough votes to keep her in the competition so far but The X Factor's Lucy Spraggan sparked controversy this week.

The singer, who is suffering from flu, was ordered to stay at home by doctors on Saturday night's show after they ruled her too ill to perform.

And the decision has caused controversy, with some fans claiming she has an unfair advantage.

Get well soon: The X Factor's Lucy Spraggan was ruled too ill to perform by doctors on Saturday after suffering with flu

Get well soon: The X Factor's Lucy Spraggan was ruled too ill to perform by doctors on Saturday after suffering with flu

Aspiring pop star Lucy, who, on a separate matter, has been ejected from the contestants' plush hotel due to her drunken antics, was too ill to attend rehearsals on Thursday and medics decided she was too unfit to take to the stage after checking her over on Saturday.

Breaking the news on the competition's official Twitter account, a representative wrote: '@lspraggan is just too unwell to perform on tonight's #xfactor. Lucy will proceed to next weekend's show.'

A spokesman for the show added: 'Lucy isn't well and on advice won't be performing tonight. She automatically goes through to next week's show.'

Victory: Lucy hopes to beat her illness and take to the stage once again next weekend

Victory: Lucy hopes to beat her illness and take to the stage once again next weekend

Spooky: The star was seen out and about with fellow contestant Rylan Clark this week as they headed out to celebrate his 24th birthday

Hugging it out: Lucy cuddles mentor Tulisa Contostavlos after successfully making it through to the next round during a previous week on The X Factor

Hugging it out: Lucy cuddles mentor Tulisa Contostavlos after successfully making it through to the next round during a previous week on The X Factor

However, Lucy was well enough to step out with fellow contestant Rylan Clark this week in a bid to celebrate his 24th birthday.

And while the choice to exclude Lucy from Saturday's show may surprise some fans, it isn't the first time a similar decision has been made - former contestant Diana Vickers also missed a performance in 2008 due to sickness.

And Lucy's absence from the show hasn't sat well with fans with many taking to Twitter to vent their frustration.

One user wrote: 'I know she's ill and everything but it's a bit unfair that Lucy Spraggan gets to go straight through into next week without even singing.'

Another tweeted: 'So it's x factor time. Im not feeling well either so thankfully like Lucy spraggan I'm gliding through Til next week'

However, Some Spraggan fans missed Lucy's singing, with one Twitter user writing: 'So disappointed @lspraggan couldn't perform tonight! The show just wasn't the same! Get well soon Lucy :( x'

In addition, fellow contestant Rylan Clark and show judge Tulisa Contostavlos encouraged the musician to get better by sending her their best wishes during the programme.

Strumming away: Lucy plays the guitar as she sings during a recent performance on The X Factor during healthier times

Strumming away: Lucy plays the guitar as she sings during a recent performance on The X Factor during healthier times