'X Factor' hopefuls slam bootcamp rules

Contestants on The X Factor have complained about the format of bootcamp.

The Sun reports that the 200 hopefuls had to perform with two other acts when they auditioned to get into the top 50. As groups are counted as one act, the rules meant that up to 12 contestants could be on stage at one time.

Some hopefuls reportedly described the move as "psychological torture", while others decided to leave the show.

"People couldn't always choose the song they wanted to perform," auditionee Katrina Lee said. "Some groups struggled working together, got stressed, and forgot the words."

Meanwhile, Nyima Small, who also auditioned for Popstars: The Rivals, explained: "It felt like they had planned to make it more dramatic.

"I ended up singing Diana Ross's 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', which is a song I can't bear."

"You could have as many as 12 people on stage at one time," Dwayne Lemonte added. "You had to make your line the one moment to shine.

"It really knocked me off my feet compared to last year. Some people made a real fool of themselves."

The first bootcamp show is on ITV1 at 8pm tonight.