THE X FACTOR - NEW HOPE FOR X FACTOR

NEW HOPE FOR X FACTOR

This year's series of ITV reality show The X Factor looks like it will be dominated by speculation surrounding manufactured girl group Hope.

Last year a real band who nearly sneaked past the boot camp stage came a cropper when it emerged they had been furtively ordered on to the show by their record company.

This time round the show's producers appear to have adopted a different approach by selecting a number of solo singers rejected at boot camp to join together in their own group.

The resulting all-girl ensemble, Hope, are causing quite a stir according to tabloid reports.

One source told the Daily Star newspaper: "Just like everyone was talking about Shayne Ward two years ago and then Leona Lewis last year, all the producers are gossiping about is this girl band.

"A group has never won The X Factor but Simon is determined Hope will be the first. He believes they could be as big as the Spice Girls and he is determined to beat them in the battle for Christmas number one."

The News of the World newspaper suggests one reason why many of the stars have been so disappointing this year.

It quotes rejected contestant Sisi Jghalef as claiming that the Oxfordshire mansion has seen many wannabe stars ruining their chances through various nocturnal activities.

"Put 200 young people in a stately home for a week and you can guess what happens. It should have been called bonk camp," she said.