Gravesend student Tamera Foster was last night told she "has the X factor" in the first live show of the hit TV talent contest.

The 16-year-old, who is the bookmakers’ favourite to win the competition, sang Ain't Nobody by Rufus and Chaka Khan in a 1980s-themed episode.

Her performance impressed judge Gary Barlow so much that he told her: "You have the X Factor."

Fellow judge Louis Walsh called the North West Kent College musical theatre student an "out of the box pop star", while Nicole Scherzinger said she is a "force to be reckoned with".

Both bookmakers William Hill and Sky Bet have given 9/4 odds on Tamera triumphing as overall winner of The X Factor.

In tonight's results show, Lorna Simpson became the first contestant to be voted off after the judges chose to send her home.

She faced a sing-off with fellow over-25s contestant Shelley Smith - leaving torn judge Sharon Osbourne refusing to vote.

Tamera - who will sing again in next week's show with the remaining 10 other contestants - entered the contest as part of duo Silver Rock, but judges decided to split them up.

To reach the live shows, Tamera sang Fallin’ by Alicia Keys at the last stage in Antigua, impressing judge Nicole and guest judge Mary J Blige with her performance.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Maidstone singer Josh Zare was among the members of band Kingsland Road who also performed in last night’s show.

The group burst into a performance of Wham's I'm Your Man that was packed with choreography.

Judge Sharon Osbourne said they created a "great atmosphere", while Walsh said: "That really worked."

Scherzinger said she was "very impressed", and Barlow said: "There's nothing out there like you at the moment."

Josh, who studied at Maidstone Grammar School's Sixth Form from 2009 until 2011, is joined by friends Matt, Connor, Thompson and Jay as part of Kingsland Road.

They have been tipped to be the next big boyband and have been compared to the show's previous contestants One Direction.

The lads, all aged 19 to 24, work part time in a bar and all live together in East London.

They were among 12 acts - the girls, the boys, the groups and the over-25s - who took to the stage for the first of the live shows.

Take That front man Barlow also confirmed live on air that this would be his final series as a judge on the show.

One of the dozen remaining acts will be voted off in tonight’s results show on ITV1.

What did you think of last night's first live show? Who is your favourite act? Join the debate below.