Gamu Nhengu ordered to leave Britain

By Nick Collins

The 18-year-old, from Zimbabwe, had been tipped to win the competition outright but failed to even qualify as one of the final 12 contestants after being rejected by judge Cheryl Cole.

Reports earlier this week claimed Gamu’s failure was related to issues with her visa, and on Tuesday night the Home Office confirmed her family had been sent an official letter telling them to leave Britain.

The order was the result of an investigation into £16,000 in benefits wrongly claimed by her mother, Nokutula, The Sun reported.

Nokutula was denied permission to remain in the country and Gamu and her two brothers will also be forced to leave because they arrived on their mother’s visa, the Home Office confirmed.

The family, whose home is in Scotland, could be deported it they do not voluntarily leave Britain.

A UK Border Agency spokeswoman said the applications “were considered in line with the published immigration rules”.

She said the application was refused because “It did not meet all of the conditions for approval. Skilled workers are not allowed recourse to public funds.”

A Facebook page protesting against the teenager’s departure from the show had more than 200,000 members on Wednesday morning. The Telegraph

ITV reportedly received 650 complaints about the decision to boot the singer off the show.