'X Factor' auditions 'cancelled' after Simon Cowell announces major show shake-up

The X Factor auditions have been cancelled following Simon Cowell’s announcement that the show will be undergoing a transformation.

Auditions for the ITV talent show usually take place in the summer with the show airing on TV in the autumn.

However, various locations who were due to hold the auditions for the competition have now confirmed that they’ve been cancelled.

Read more: Why ‘X Factor’s’ Dalton Harris can’t count his millions just yet

A spokesperson for one venue in North Wales told the Daily Post: “We heard a couple of weeks ago that ITV were uhmming and ahhing about the new series. But we had no official confirmation from the production team at all.

“We had a whole event planned around it, with about 60 acts lined up to audition. We spent a lot of money putting things together. The event was meant to be next week, and we finally got confirmation a couple of days ago. But it wasn’t a statement or anything, literally just a phone call and that was it..

“They said Simon Cowell has other ideas, like a winner of winners competition, or a celebrity version of the show.”

Auditions in Essex, Hull and Newcastle have also reportedly been called off.

Read more: ‘X Factor’ suffers lowest ratings in its history

After months of speculation about the future of The X Factor, Cowell confirmed in February that the show would be going through a change.

Speaking to The Sun, the media mogul said: “The time feels right, and it will be a huge change. We haven’t exactly confirmed the dates or the order of the shows, but essentially there are going to be two versions of X Factor running this year.

“I think it’s going to be huge, it’s the best I’ve felt about this show in years.”