X Factor pair 'allowed to view' onscreen bust-up

X Factor pair 'allowed to view' onscreen bust-up
X Factor pair 'allowed to view' onscreen bust-up

Simon Cowell has allowed two X Factor auditionees who fought on stage to see their audition footage ahead of it being shown on Saturday's programme. Abbey Johnston and Lisa Parker, from Leamington Spa, came to blows at the Birmingham auditions after the audience booed them before they even started singing. After being rude to guest judge Natalie Imbruglia, Simon Cowell told the pair they had the "worst attitude ever" - with Abbey subsequently lashing out at Lisa before they left the stage. However following reports that Abbey had suffered abuse in her home town as a result of the incident, Simon has been keen to ensure the girls are happy for the tape to be broadcast. "Simon's first thought is always how viewers will react," an insider said, "and he doesn't want to victimise or upset anyone who goes on stage. "He thought it was a really memorable audition and the girls seem keen for it to be shown as well now after they spoke with the production team. They'll certainly become overnight stars." Other highlights of Saturday's show will include American hopeful Storm Lee Gardner, who impresses Simon with his singing but not his name which the mogul describes as "stupid". And Twem - a duo described as a French version of Jedward - travel all the way from Paris to audition on the show, delivering their version of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance.

Patrick McLennan

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.