Cowell wants Hope to win 'X Factor'?

X Factor girl band Hope are being groomed to win the ITV1 talent series, according to a report.

Last night's episodes saw the group being formed from rejected solo singers at the boot camp stage, after judge Louis Walsh suggested the idea as an "experiment".

Show sources have claimed that Simon Cowell is now desperate for the girls to win the series and challenge the Spice Girls in the Christmas chart battle.

An insider told the Daily Star Sunday: "The biggest vibe on the show this year is about Hope. Just like everyone was talking about Shayne Ward two years ago and Leona Lewis last year, all the producers are gossiping about is this girl band.

"A group has never won The X Factor but Simon is determined Hope will be the first. He believes they could be as big as the Spice Girls and he is determined to beat them in the battle for Christmas number one."

Some disappointed hopefuls believe that the idea to put together a new band was not a last minute suggestion by Louis, but was planned by Cowell all along.

Krystal Dixon, from W4, explained: "The producers are saying they decided at the last minute to put Hope together. But it is a bit suspicious how they waited until right to the very end before auditioning the bands. It is like they had already decided they would form a group if they didn't find the one they thought could win."

However, an X Factor spokesman insisted: "Louis saw potential in a number of contestants at boot camp and offered them the opportunity to continue in the competition as part of a group. Simon has maintained from the start the idea would not work.

"However, now that he has been given the groups to mentor, he will make every effort to ensure his category has a chance at winning."