'X Factor' revamps judges' homes stage

X Factor hopefuls will soon be flown off to the show's most exotic locations yet, a report claims.

According to The Mirror, producers have decided to make improvements to the judges' houses stage of the competition, which traditionally sees Louis Walsh's budding singers sent off to Ireland and Simon Cowell's hopefuls to his holiday home in Barbados.

It is believed that Walsh's category will instead be jetting out to Tuscany later this month, with Cowell expected to choose his own final acts in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue are believed to be preparing for respective holidays in Marrakech and Dubai with their contestants.

An insider explained: "Everywhere else in TV there are cutbacks, but The X Factor is going to be bigger and better than before.

"ITV want to send out a signal that the show is going to be different this year and also want to treat the singers for all the hard work they are putting in."

Show chiefs have already revamped the previous rounds by introducing live audiences at the auditions and boot camp.