X Factor shake-up: Simon Cowell axes room auditions – brings back arenas!

Simon Cowell seems determined to shake up The X Factor to within an inch of it’s (very long) life. According to reports, Simon has now dropped the intimate room auditions – which were scrapped in 2008 but brought back in 2012 – in favour of getting competition hopefuls auditioning in front of a large crowd.

“Simon always preferred the big arenas for the auditions as he likes having the audience there as a fifth judge,” an insider told The Sun.

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“The X Factor isn’t just about vocals – it’s about how you perform and entertain a crowd, so it makes sense to go back to the arenas and everyone on the show agrees.”

The dad-of-one’s revamp of the talent show isn’t just limited to these changes. It’s already claimed he’s dropped last year’s judge Mel B and it’s still unknown whether X Factor veteran Louis Walsh will return.

Earlier this year it was announced that lovely Dermot O’Leary would be off the show and has since been replaced with former Xtra Factor duo Olly Murs and Caroline Flack.

The insider added: “Simon said there would be changes this year and he is determined to make this one of the best years ever. Viewing figures weren’t bad last series, but they weren’t up to his high standards, so he is going to do everything he can to put that right.”