2011: Simon Cowell Out Of Pocket by £200,000 by axing the X Factor Public Vote

Simon Cowell is reportedly expected to lose £200,000 this weekend after axing the public vote on Sunday night’s result show.

This week the X Factor revealed that their BIG Twist is to make the judges – Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh – decide who goes, as they have been asked to axe one contestant from their own categories.

This is a first for the X Factor and it looks quite harsh and is bound to cause drama and tears, not least that the judges have become friends with many of the contestants.

And without a public vote, the twist will cost ITV a lot of money in the hopes that the change will boost ratings.

A source told The Sun: “The series has a new judging panel and ITV wants bumper ratings for the first live episodes.”