Cowell 'furious' over 'X Factor' leak

Simon Cowell is said to be 'furious' after the names of the final 12 X Factor acts were leaked on the internet.

Show producers had hoped to keep the identities of the finalists under wraps until they were officially announced on the ITV1 talent series next weekend.

However, an unofficial fan site for Rachel Hylton, who wowed the judges in her original audition, correctly named all of the contestants earlier this week. The site's owners were later forced to remove the information after the X Factor legal team intervened.

"Simon Cowell was furious because he knows one of the biggest shows of the series is the 'reveal' of finalists," an insider told the Daily Record. "He doesn't want anyone to ruin it."

An X Factor spokesman said: "Rachel was not aware of the site and she was not involved."

Viewers will see the four judges starting to whittle down the final 150 acts in tonight's first Boot Camp episode, which airs at 7.45pm.