A 21-YEAR-OLD from Buckinghamshire has been thrown a second X Factor lifeline.

Staz Nair and his band Times Red are one of four acts granted a wild card entry by the judges to stay in the competition.

The excitement could be short-lived however, as only one of the four acts will go through following a public vote this weekend.

Staz, who grew up in Seer Green and Chesham, said he was devastated to be knocked out at the Judges’ Houses stage and admits it feels as if the ITV show is toying with his emotions.

The band had already been given a reprieve in a previous round after another act were forced to quit.

The former Dr Challoner’s Grammar School pupil told the Bucks Free Press: “It’s crazy and very stressful...But it’s part of it and you have to deal with it. You just have to hope people want you in the show.”

He moved to London three years ago to move in with band mates Scott Ritchie and Luke White.

Times Red formed six months ago and have had some success with gigs around the country, though Staz still works as a barman to help pay the bills.

But many more have been paying attention since the band’s first X Factor audition, which has now been watched by well over a million people on YouTube (see below).

The band performed a medley of Ain't No Sunshine and Let’s Get it Started in the groups category, but were sent home by judge Louis Walsh.

The trio thought a lack of emotion on camera might have given the wrong impression, but Staz hopes the public will now vote for them to stay in.

He added: “We are not trying to be a boy band, that’s not the kind of look we are going for....Scott plays the guitar and I play the piano. But our passion is being on stage - there’s no desire to be a celebrity.”