X Factor in hot water over 'sleazy' drink-fuelled tub party screened before the watershed

By BEN TODD

Quick, get in! Bootcamp hopefuls strip off

The X Factor was embroiled in a fresh sleaze row after screening raunchy scenes from a contestants' drink-fuelled party before the watershed.

The ITV1 show was accused of 'not taking its responsibilities seriously' after it featured scenes of bikini-clad youngsters getting drunk, kissing intimately and frolicking in a hot tub.

The footage, which was broadcast on Saturday at 8.15pm, was filmed over the summer during a welcome party for 186 contestants at the show's so-called Bootcamp stage.


Hello, girls: Frankie Cocozza joins the hot tub

Hours earlier, it emerged that one contestant had been involved in a pornographic video while another was said to have confessed to spending £30,000 on drugs in the past.

Critics attacked Simon Cowell and other show bosses for the raunchy scenes, which come just months after the furore over lewd performances by pop stars Rihanna and Christina Aguilera last December.


Shocked viewers: Amelia Lily (left) and Frankie Cocozza, 18, who said he had the names of girls tattooed on his buttocks

According to insiders, even the show's own production staff have begun to dub it Sex Factor.

Saturday's sleazy scenes were filmed at the four-star Selsdon Park hotel in Croydon, South-East London, where the contestants were staying.

At one point, Luke Lucas, one of the youngest wannabes at 16, turns to the camera and says: 'I'm so happy' as other show hopefuls jump into a hot tub wearing bikinis.


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In other footage, for last night's spin-off show the Xtra Factor, Luke is accused of attempting to woo fellow contestant Amelia Lily, also 16.

She claims: 'He said, "Come here, baby". And I was like, "er, no", and he started [singing] "I know you love me," and he got hold of my hand and started kissing it and I was like, "Oh no!"'

Last night, Vivienne Pattison, director of Mediawatch, said: 'A couple of weeks ago Simon Cowell was making out there wasn't going to be a re-run of the Rihanna and Christina Aguilera scenes last year.

'But they have to take their responsibilities seriously – because they are not at the moment.


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source: dailymail