X Factor bosses have been rocked by a pregnancy scare in the contestants' luxury North London mansion.

A shocked researcher found a used pregnancy test kit in a communal room shared by at least a dozen contestants and various production workers.
Show supremo Simon Cowell, 49, was informed immediately and contestants discreetly quizzed.
Production chiefs feared news of the scandal leaking out would destroy the show's squeaky-clean image.


Last night a show insider revealed: "After an investigation was launched the female who owned the kit sheepishly came forward and admitted it was hers.


"Bosses went mad when told about the find because they have a duty of care towards the contestants and staff during their stay because of their relatively young ages.


"The words 'pregnancy' and 'X Factor' just don't sit well together.


"It's meant to be a family show and bosses will go to any length to protect that image."


Only three female finalists currently live in the house.


Alexandra Burke, 20, and Diana Vickers, 17, are the under-25 girls mentored by Cheryl Cole.


Ruth Lorenzo, 25, is the over-25 finalist mentored by Dannii Minogue.


Two girl groups, Girlband and Bad Lashes, also stayed in the posh home in Hampstead before being voted off, along with dozens of female backroom staff.


Both Alexandra and Diana have been ordered by Cheryl to stay away from men and concentrate on their singing.


Cheryl's third under-25 female was 21-year-old Laura White, who suffered a shock exit three weeks ago.


She has been dating TV executive Matthew Firsht - who worked on the X Factor auditions earlier this year - for six months.


Spanish star Ruth is engaged to rocker Juanma.


Last week's evictee Rachel Hylton, 26, didn't stay in the communal house, preferring to go home to her two children each night.


Our source continued: "The show is getting massive ratings and with the likes of Take That and Britney Spears appearing on the X Factor, the last thing they need is a major sex/pregnancy scandal.


"Any bad publicity like this can cause real problems."


Despite regularly attracting more than 10million viewers, the show is still recovering from last year's claims of vote-rigging - which were strongly denied by bosses.


It means every aspect of X Factor is kept under close scrutiny, said our source, who added: "Nothing will be allowed to taint what is a very successful brand.


"It does seem ironic, though, that the star they most want on the show - Britney - is hardly a squeaky-clean role model herself."


X Factor refused to comment last night.

- The People

So, Diana performed Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman and Everybody Hurts and the judges didn't really like them. Nope, in fact they thought she was a high risk of going, but our Diana did it and she is through to the Top 4 .
Next week is Diana's own choice of songs, so should see her at her best!

Diana is no longer the bookies favourite to win the X Factor 2008, and unfortunately Alexandra has taken over. Diana is 5/2 in most places. Unfortunately however, she is now second favourite to be eliminated tonight, so guys PLEASE we must vote!!!

Tonight Diana sang "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman", and unfortunately the judges didn't like it.

As we know she has ONE more song to impress judges with, but we have to vote! The number is

0901 61 61 105

Yee-ha boys and girls have we got a rootin’ tootin’ show for y’all tonight!

Dust off those cowboy hats, pour yourself another shake, and sit back and bask in the warm glow of top-class family entertainment courtesy of Uncle Sam himself.

Yes ladies and gents, tonight is American Week, where each of our finalists will sing two songs originating from the US, and to honour our very special guest, all of them will have to sing one Britney Spears song!

So partners, lookee here at what the guys and gals are singing tonight…

Alexandra - Toxic by Britney

- Listen by Beyonce

Diana - I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman by Britney

- Everybody Hurts by REM

Eoghan - Sometimes by Britney

- Together by High School Musical

Ruth - I Love Rock and Roll by Britney

- Always by Bon Jovi

JLS - Hit Me Baby One More Time by Britney

- You Light Up My Life by Whitney Houston

- XFactor.itv.com

X Factor contestants Eoghan Quigg and Diana Vickers have laughed off rumours that they are an item.

Despite tabloid speculation that the pair are romantically involved, a show source insisted that the duo are "just good friends and nothing more".

The insider said their platonic friendship has not been affected by the rumours and, as the youngest contestants in the house, they are continuing to "mess about together".

This week's X Factor will see the hopefuls sing a Britney Spears track and an American hit. Spears will appear on the show performing new single 'Womanizer', her first live performance in the UK in five years.

Teen star Miley Cyrus will also perform on the programme.

X Factor's vocal coach Yvie Burnett has claimed that Diana Vickers needs to tone down her quirky singing style.

Burnett revealed that she has kept recent criticism of the 17-year-old's voice in mind when she has worked with her recently.

"I wouldn't ever take it away but I tell her not to yelp too often," Burnett told the Daily Record. "It's her style. I don't want to take it away because she wouldn't sound like Diana.

"But we put it in here and there and don't do it all the time. In vocal coaching, you do enough of something - you don't put it into overkill."

Spanish singer Ruth Lorenzo has also been instructed to hold back in her performances if she wants a better chance of winning the ITV1 talent show.

"Her voice is huge. If you hear her in real life, it's really, really loud," Burnett explained. "But when you've got a big voice like that, it's harder to control.

"She's worked incredibly hard and can now sing softly and build it up, which is a great talent. She's a Celine Dion-type of singer - a proper singer. I hope she does well whatever happens to her on The X Factor because she's a great talent."

- Digitalspy

This week's X Factor will see the five remaining acts sing Britney Spears hits in honour of the US star's guest appearance on the show.

All the hopefuls will perform a Britney song along with an unknown 'American' track.

In her first live UK performance in five years, the pop princess will sing her comeback track 'Womanizer'. Miley Cyrus will also perform her single '7 Things'.

Eoghan Quigg, the last contestant in the boys category, will tackle the popstar's early hit 'Sometimes', while over-25s hopeful Ruth Lorenzo is working on her own interpretation of Britney's Joan Jett cover 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll'.

In Cheryl Cole's girls section, Alexandra Burke will sing 'Toxic' backed by 14 scantily-clad dancers, with Diana Vickers performing 'I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman' from the album Britney.

The X Factor airs at 7.35pm and 10.15pm tomorrow on ITV1.

-DigitalSpy

Diana Vickers has admitted that she still has regrets about auditioning for The X Factor, despite making it to the finals.

The reality show contestant said that she is concerned about opening herself up to criticism at such a young age.

The Daily Mail quotes her as saying: "It is hard. Sometimes I do think I'm 17, and there's so much pressure anyway growing up.

"Now I'm growing up in the public eye and something bad will be said about me and I'll think, 'Why did I do this?'

"But that will last for literally five minutes and I get over it. Then I'm on stage on the Saturday night and all this amazing stuff happens and everything is worth it."

It was recently reported that more than 8,000 people have joined Facebook groups protesting the quirky movements of Diana's left hand.

- DigitalSpy

Diana Vickers has revealed she's turned to a self-help book recommended to her by The X Factor reject Laura White.