The producers of x factor UK have found themselves in hot water once more, by faking a live performance from One Direction. The sixth week of live shows was themed ‘Best of British’ and the boy band were shown performing live on the X Factor stage. However, MTV have reported that the segment was actually filmed around a month ago. Which makes the image of Dermot O’Leary giving a ‘thumbs-up’ to the stage area a little odd, really.

Apparently, in an attempt to fool viewers into thinking that One Direction were live in the studio, the judges even wore the same outfits when the performance was filmed. The performance from Harry Styles & co was billed as “live from London” which… it sort of was… but probably not in the way that the majority of viewers will have expected. Dermot didn’t actually say that the band was live. But he didn’t exactly explain that the segment was pre-recorded, either. Which would have been the honourable thing to do. What he did say was “We have been celebrating the best of British tonight and they don't come any bigger or any more British than our next special guest. They have conquered the world and it all began for them here. We're the proudest parents on the planet as we welcome back with their new single – One Direction.”

The show’s producers weren’t the only ones feeling the heat on the weekend; boy band District 3 found themselves getting the boot yesterday as they were voted out in favour of the show’s other boy band Union J. Both band’s mentor, Louis Walsh, controversially decided not to vote. He really hasn’t got the hang of this ‘voting’ thing any more than the show’s producers have got a handle of the notion of a ‘live performance.’ There’ll be more drama to come before the show’s over.