The X Factor has axed Liverpool from the auditions stage after Chris Maloney debacle

The X Factor has axed Liverpool from the auditions stage after Chris Maloney debacle

X FACTOR bosses have axed Liverpool from the auditions stage â€" sparking a massive backlash from the home of The Beatles.

Producers insist they are just “mixing it up” â€" but sources say they were unimpressed with local talent in the shape of Chris Maloney last year.

Instead they are considering handing Plymouth a chance, despite the city’s low-key musical heritage.

The decision is even more surprising given the success of Liverpudlian Rebecca Ferguson, 26, a runner-up in 2010, and 24-year-old Marcus Collins in 2011.

Deputy mayor and former culture spokesman Gary Millar blasted the move and called it “a nonsense”.

He said: “It’s ridiculous to say Liverpool doesn’t have talent. The last three finalists came from Merseyside.

“Liverpool is the city with 57 Number One hits. The history of bands and upcoming venues is second to none. From buskers, to schools, to groups, music is part of Liverpool’s heritage. People from all over the world gravitate to Liverpool for our music.”

The provisional X Factor audition list being drawn up instead includes London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and Glasgow. Newcastle, however, has also been axed after featuring last year.

The auditions in Essex reportedly got off to a very slow start.

A source revealed: “They have had a few names come from Liverpool in the past but they were pretty underwhelmed by the talent last year.

“They want to try somewhere totally different because they are worried people could get bored and are desperate to diversify the talent on the show.”

Judge Gary Barlow coached Liverpudlian Maloney towards a coveted third place last year.

But Maloney’s presence in the latter stages of the show is understood to have irked Simon Cowell who thought that he devalued the competition.

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Guest judge Geri Halliwell with Christopher Maloney

Our source added: “There’s not really much foundation to their decision given the fact that the last three seasons have clearly produced a lot of talent.

 

“They are all under a lot of pressure from Simon Cowell to revamp the show and bringing in fresh talent from around the UK is their first big move towards doing that.”

Music mogul Cowell, 53, last year stripped Birmingham from the auditions line-up swapping it for Newcastle. But a disappointing turn out up north has forced producers to bring Birmingham back.

An X Factor spokesman said yesterday: “Last year we found some great talent in Liverpool but this year we won’t be returning. We visit a range of cities.”

Rival singing show The Voice kicks off this weekend on BBC1. Click here for all the breaking news about the show.