‘The X Factor’ UK: Simon Cowell, Dermot O’Leary reportedly ill before auditions start

We’re only a day away now (or really less than, to be frank) from the start of the “X Factor” audition process in front of the judges, but there already is a little bit of drama. Why? Let’s just say that it has to do with a health crisis.

According to The Sun, head judge / executive producer Simon Cowell has fallen ill with the flu, with a source having the following to say all about it:

“Simon is hopeful he can make [the X Factor auditions] but is under the weather this week. He’s resting up.”

Meanwhile, a source also claimed that host Dermot O’Leary, who is returning to the show after a year off, is battling food poisoning and it is currently unclear if he will be able to make it there after missing an appearance at the Glamour Awards:

“Dermot is a regular guest at the Glamour Awards so his absence proved how ill he is … He was supposed to be at the auditions but it’s touch and go whether he will be well enough.”

If Simon is not there, we imagine that the other judges will simply pick up in his stead; however, losing Dermot for a day could be a little more tricky, since you will have to presumably either find another host or simply not show many of the day one contestants speaking to him in hopes that nobody will notice.

“The X Factor” (which will also have Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger, and Louis Walsh as judges this season) will premiere on ITV later this summer. As per usual, we’ll have some other updates all about the show as we start to have them.

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