24 October 2005
IT STARTED out as a good-natured TV talent contest, but became a vicious battleground of back-biting and bitchiness.
There were angry rows, hysterics, threats and accusations of dirty tricks - and that was just among the judges.
So this year the X Factor team has called a truce and promised to play nicely.
And that comes straight from Simon Cowell, who ought to know...
The first series of the ITV1 show last autumn was overshadowed by the bickering of Simon and fellow judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh.
"Our egos got in the way of the contestants last year," admits Simon, 46. "There was too much bickering and stupidity.
Rest of the story
Mirror
