X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke praised the “lovely spirit” of fellow Islington singer Sophie Habibis and says she should get another chance after Frankie Cocozza was kicked off.

Alexandra was a guest judge when Sophie, 20, from Tufnell Park, was booted off the show in October after losing a sing-off with contestant Misha B.

Yesterday at her former school Elizabeth Garatt Anderson in Donegal Street, Islington, where she launched a �300,000 runaway children project, Alexandra called for Sophie to be reinstated now Frankie, 18, has been axed for boasting about cocaine use.

Alexandra, 23, the 2008 X Factor champion, said: “Sophie was great. She had such a lovely spirit. I think they should bring her back.”

It is understood however that one of the four acts sent home by the X-Factor judges in the first live show will be voted back in by the public this weekend.

Alexandra stood by her controversial claims that Frankie was not taking the competition seriously.

She continued: “Hopefully this can be his light at the end of the tunnel and he can work hard and take things more seriously. I wish him all the best.

“I don’t care about age because I was only 20. During my time on X-Factor social networking sites, Facebook Myspace and Twitter, were not allowed, there was a 9.30pm curfew and we were lucky even to see our family at weekends. It was very strict. Now they seem to have more freedom which may not be a bad thing. But when you’re at a young age the danger is you can take advantage of the situation. I can’t judge but just from what I saw he didn’t take things very seriously.”

Alexandra said her favourites in the competition were Misha B, Craig and Marcus.