'The X Factor' is holding emergency auditions to find groups.
Producers have been panicking about the lack of talent in the ITV show's groups category this year, so have asked unknown bands to attend the auditions today (01.07.13) at the Price Studios in Battersea, London.
Judges Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Gary Barlow are looking for the next big band to follow in the footsteps of past contestants One Direction and Little Mix, but have been thoroughly unimpressed with the standard so far.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "The judges are being tougher than ever. Sharon and Gary are teaming up against lacklustre talent -- and without the arena audience being there to persuade them as in previous years, not many acts are making it through.
"Nicole and Louis are more open to the idea of developing the acts. But Sharon and Gary are insisting that they only want the best. It's causing a bit of a split between the panel.
"Ideally, they want to get groups that have been together a while and have got chemistry, rather than having to make their own. They know the talent is out there, they just have to find it."
The judges are hoping to find acts that are good enough to put through to the "behind closed doors" auditions, which take place in Cardiff on Wednesday (03.07.13).
The new format will see wannabes face the judges in an intimate acapella audition before moving on to the second round, where their stage presence will be put to the test in front of an arena audience.
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