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We may all be a bit bored with watching The X Factor, but it would seem even the wannabe popstars are no longer interested in trying out as only one person showed up within the first hour of the Colchester preliminary auditions.
40-year-old Cher Townrow was the only contestant waiting to show producers her singing talents as they opened the doors at the Red Lion Hotel in Colchester and it has been reported that the producers had only seen around 20 people by the end of the day.
This may show the recent decline in the show's popularity as around 100 people turned out for the same audition last year as people queued from 6am to try their luck at becoming the next C Factor star.
Unfortunately Townrow failed to impress during her Colchester audition. She told the Sun: "I was walking home and saw it on the sign for the auditions. At home I can sing brilliantly, but it didn't happen here. I'm surprised no-one else was here. It could have been the cold weather."
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It was even reported that X Factor bosses were trying to persuade people on the street to go into the hotel and try-out for this year's show. However, a spokesperson has been quick to defend the popularity of the X Factor.
They said: "The X Factor mobile auditions are taking place across the UK this week, allowing budding artists to try out in towns and cities where the auditions tour doesn't reach.
"The numbers attending vary from location to location and are on a par with last year when we found our winner James Arthur. Overall applications are strong for this series and are in line with last year.
"We've had strong turnouts at other locations for the mobile auditions with more than 250 people turning up at Hull and over 100 in Great Yarmouth."
It has recently been revealed that X Factor producers are facing a budget crisis after the four judges believed to be appearing on the 2013 series demanded fees totalling £6million.
A source told the Sun: "We know returning judges cost more. It's what happens if you negotiate every series."
Below - X Factor: from the early days to a bubble ready to burst
