HMV sorry for Amelia X Factor 'winner' error

HMV has been forced to apologise after a 'regrettable technical issue' on its website led to rumours of an X Factor fix ahead of this weekend's final. Fans of the show were shocked after HMV's website posted an item under its CD Singles Coming Soon category which read: "Amelia Lily X Factor 2011 Winner's Single". HMV was quick to deny that it had any insider information on the outcome of the final, which will take place at Wembley Arena this weekend and will be decided by a public vote. HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said: "Hmv.com was looking to accept customer pre-orders for versions of the X Factor winner's single recorded by each of the three finalists. "However, due to a technical issue only Amelia Lily's details were uploaded. These have been temporarily removed so that all three finalists details can go up at the same time. "This has been the result of an unforeseen, but regrettable technical issue, for which we apologise and ask that nothing further be construed." Caren Davis, head of publicity for The X Factor, said: "This is absolutely nothing to do with The X Factor, HMV have admitted this was due to a technical error on their site." A source close to the talent show said they were 'very annoyed' about the error. In the final, Amelia will face Marcus Collins and Little Mix, the first girl group to make it to the talent show's finale. Amelia reached the final after being voted off by her mentor Kelly Rowland in the first week of live shows. A public vote later brought her back to replace disgraced Frankie Cocozza, who was booted off after boasting he had used cocaine.

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.