It has left hopefuls high and dry.

It has been reported that all X Factor auditions have been scrapped at the last-minute, leaving hopefuls high and dry. A spokesperson for Garden Den , who were due to hold auditions this month, said: "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." "Thing is, they don't pay to use your venue, they just expect it and in return, you get the publicity." "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 the X-Factor is 'not being aired, there won't be any auditions', nothing at all. It's been pulled." The spokesperson continued: "They said Simon Cowell has other ideas, like a winner of winners competition, or a celebrity version of the show." "But all auditions across the country have been cancelled at the last minute while they decide what they are doing with it." "Sad thing is, everyone who agreed to do this will have lost out in some way, shape or form." "And there still hasn't been an official statement from them, or even a press release. We've had no guidance on what to say. And heard nothing since they hung up the phone." But Simon did speak of his plans to The Sun, saying: "I've had a meeting with ITV, I've told them what I think we'd like to do with X Factor because we've been waiting to have this opportunity." "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." Time will tell, I guess.