Tuesday, 29 Nov 2005 13:15
inthenews
X Factor host Kate Thornton and hunky hopeful Shayne Ward have been told to tone down their flirting, after their lovey-dovey behaviour started to get tongues wagging.
The 21-year-old Mancunian singer has reportedly been visiting 32-year-old Kate's dressing room for pep talks and advice, and they have consequently been told to "rein in" their friendship.
A mole on the show told the Daily Star: "Shayne has gone to see Kate in her dressing room for pep talks and claims she is like this cool big sister. Well, no-one looks at their sister like that.
"Kate’s been told not to favour Shayne so openly in the interests of impartiality but everyone thinks they will become an item after the show finishes."
"He follows her around like a lovesick puppy," the insider added.
On a show where accusations about impartiality between judges have been rife ever since Louis Walsh voted off Maria, producers are keen that hot favourite Shayne isn't seen to be getting an unfair advantage.
Earlier this year there was a furore on American Idol, the trans-Atlantic money-spinner where Simon Cowell also sits as a judge, when one of the contestants who had been voted off the show claimed to have had an affair with another of the judges, Paula Abdul.
However, these claims were eventually ruled to be unfounded, and Abdul continues to appear on the talent show.
