The X Factor is pulling out all the stops for this year’s upcoming series to get viewers completely attached.
The show’s Six Chair Challenge is always intense but it seems it’s stepped up a notch now and the change left judge Sharon Osbourne in tears.
The challenge will now see judges pick six out of 20 acts to take through to judges’ houses but they will make the decision completely alone and away from the other three.
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They will sit on one side of the Arena while the remaining three judges will comment on the acts from another part of the venue.
But Sharon, 64, was left in tears after being the first judge to try out the new shake-up on Wednesday.
According to The Sun Sharon managed to fill all six of her chairs but the audience didn’t seem to agree with her decisions.
It was then said that producers were forced to intervene and told the rowdy crowd that their behaviour was “unfair”.
Mrs O told the audience: “It’s been a cruel night, it’s unbelievable how much talent there is. Come on guys, be nice.”
Apparently the show boss Simon Cowell was quick to add the pressure to Sharon as he said: “Don’t make a mistake or you’ll literally ruin somebody’s life.”
Meanwhile other judges, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh, offered Sharon support by giving her hugs.
The show is set to return to our screens for a 13th series later this year.
Dermot O’Leary will return to front the show while the judging panel was decided to remain the same as last year.
It was revealed that Simon, 57, decided to keep the panel the same as last year because the “chemistry was perfect”.
A source told The Sun: “The chemistry was perfect last year, so it’s only natural to want to bring the same line-up together again.
“It’s usually hard to get people’s schedules to align but for the first year it worked out.
“The judges can’t wait to get started and have already been gossiping behind the scenes.”
The show is apparently set to be having a complete image overhaul, too.
According to reports Simon has decided he wants to stir things up again in order to win back some viewers.
And one of those changes is that he wants more eliminations.
Which means acts could leave on the Saturdays as well as the Sundays.
A source told The Sun: “The Saturday night show became so tedious as there was rarely any drama which an eviction would bring.
“ITV believes transforming it is the right decision.
“It means all singers will perform on both Saturday and Sunday evenings, with acts being eliminated both nights.”
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The show recently wrapped up auditions but some of the judges were absent for part of them.
Simon was forced to pull out of auditions in east London due to a mystery illness.
A source told The Sun: “Simon didn’t feel well early in the day so had to have a bit of a slower start to the day than usual.
“But he felt a bit better as Tuesday went on so decided he would attend after all.
“Nicole really stepped up to the plate without Simon there and everyone said she absolutely dominated — but in a good way.”
Meanwhile Sharon was forced to pull out of the auditions in Edinburgh after suffering from a bad back.
The fiery judge flew back to Los Angeles to consult her doctor after the pain was so excruciating.
It was then confirmed that singer Alesha Dixon would step in for Sharon temporarily.
Alesha also stepped up to judging responsibilities after Nicole was the third judge to pull out due to a “diary commitment”.