Cowell: X-Factor is genuine despite re-shoots

Simon Cowell denied the X Factor misled viewers today as a 14-year-old who is lucky to be alive, a dinner lady, and a mother-of-two whose father sent off for her application just before he died, were unveiled as this year’s hopefuls.

A record 150,000 people have applied for the fourth series, to show off their talent in front of Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh, and new recruit Dannii Minogue.