Prankster Lee Nelson gatecrashes Stereo Kicks' live performance on The X Factor

 Stereo Kicks nearly became a nine-piece band after a well-known prankster jumped on stage while they were performing on The X Factor on Saturday night.The band managed to keep their composure when the audience member ran onto the stage right in the middle of their impressive performance of Michael Jackson’s hit, You Are Not Alone.

Comedian Lee Nelson, who was hard to miss in a red bomber jacket, felt the need to join the boys and mime along to the song before being escorted off by security. 

Viewers in the arena were equally as shocked by the stage interruption, but the boys received high praise from the judges for the way they handled the situation.

Mel B said: ‘This is what I wanted you to bring to the stage from day one. Your harmonies were great and you dealt with a stage imposter, it was perfect.'

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini was stunned by the events as she said: ‘I don’t know how I would have dealt with what you just dealt with. Very professional, congratulations for that.’

Stayed calm: The boy band members managed to stay calm despite the interruption and even shook hands with Lee

Simon Cowell added: ‘Good for you for keeping going, these things happen on live TV. You bounced back from last week. I hope the public keep you in.’

Louis Walsh joked: ‘Everyone wants to be in this band now - someone just walked out of the audience onto the stage!’.

The show’s host, Dermot O’Leary added: ‘Well done, what a weird experience.’ 

It was me: Lee jokingly started a Twitter trend after he was kicked off the stage

He then joked: ‘There’s so many of you on the stage, did you even notice someone else had joined you?’. 

Minutes later, Lee confirmed that he was the invader that went onto the stage as he tweeted: 'There are so many of them I thought anyone could have a go. 

'Really hope the boys keep me on #LeeNelsonForStereoKicks'. 

Joking around: Lee hinted that Simon Cowell wasn't too impressed with the prank

It's not the first prank that Lee has pulled in his career as the former medical doctor got in trouble with the England football team earlier this year.

SIMON BRODKIN'S PRANK HISTORY

Lee Nelson's storming of the stage during Stereo Kicks' live performance on Saturday night's X Factor is not the first time he's pulled such a prank.

The comedian has pulled off a series of practical jokes:

• In June 2014, the prankster confused the England football team when he gatecrashed them, trying to join them on a trip to Miami. He was arrested by police for his actions.
• In March 2013, he was charged by police after walking onto the football pitch and warming up with Manchester City players ahead of a match at Goodison park. He was in the guise of another comedic alter-ego, footballer Jason Bent, for the stunt.
• In November 2012, as part of a publicity stunt, he 'stole' one of his own DVDs from HMV on London's Oxford Street. He was 'chased' down the street by an actor in a police uniform, before the real police became involved and was forced to the ground.

England's departure for the World Cup was hit by a moment of farce in June when the comedian - real name Simon Brodkin - gatecrashed the travelling party as they arrived at Luton Airport.

Brodkin - best known for his performance as Lee Nelson in two BBC comedy series' - was pictured attempting to mingle with England's players and staff as they waited for their luggage to be removed from the coach which had delivered them to a private terminal at the Bedfordshire airport. 

Dressed in an identical suit to those worn by the England travelling party and brandishing a passport, Brodkin spent several moments in close proximity to the players before he appeared to be spotted first by captain Steven Gerrard, after which members of security and local police intervened. 

In April 2013, he was given a six-month conditional caution after warming up with the Manchester City team ahead of a match against Everton at Goodison Park the previous month.

He was charged with going on to the playing area, contrary to the Football Offences Act. 

And the year before, he had staged a fake theft at the Oxford Street HMV store in London, as he 'stole' one of his own DVDs during a signing. 

After having an actor dressed in police uniform 'chase' him down the street, he was soon apprehended by the real police, and was forced to the ground. 

It's not the first prank that Lee has pulled in his career as the former medical doctor got in trouble with the England football team earlier this year.