More Fix Factor accusations as Amelia Lily's 'winner's single' made available on HMV website

By Andrea Magrath


Whoops: Today HMV put up Amelia Lily's 'winner's single' days before the X Factor final


There were more red faces and furious accusations today as yet another X Factor bungle sparked 'fix' speculation.

Amelia Lily's 'winner's single' was made available for pre-order on HMV's website today, days before the ITV series final.

While all three finalists have pre-recorded their single to go on sale immediately after the winner is announced this weekend, only Miss Lily's appeared on the website.


An immediate Twitter storm ensued, causing the HMV site to crash as curious fans flooded the website to see for themselves.

HMV spokesperson Gennaro Castaldo said: 'Hmv.com was looking to accept customer pre-orders for versions of the X Factor winner’s single recorded by each of the three finalists.

'However, due to a technical issue only Amelia Lily’s details were uploaded. These have been temporarily removed so that all three finalists’ details can go up at the same time.

'This has been the result of an unforeseen but regrettable technical issue, for which we apologise and ask that nothing further be construed.'

The winner? Amelia Lily was in high spirits as she left an interview with BBC Radio One today ahead of this weekend's final


Despite the explanation, social networking sites went into overdrive as X Factor fans speculated over the repeated 'fix' blunders that have plagued the show this season.

The first rumours started after an ITV official blog announced that Amelia was the returning contestant following Frankie Cocozza's departure.

At the time fans took to Twitter after they spotted a video on the website of Scottish ITV (STV) which they believed showed Amelia Lily, 17, had won the public vote even though fans were still being urged to pay for telephone votes.

The video showed clips of Amelia from earlier rounds with a report proclaiming her the winner. It said: ‘Amelia Lily is back in The X Factor after winning the public vote tonight.’

Fix Factor! Fans of the show grumbled about a fix when Amelia replaced Misha B at the end of the M&S Christmas advert


There was also a statement posted on the website that added: 'As Dermot O’Leary read out her name, mentor Kelly Rowland jumped to her feet screaming as Amelia Lily looked stunned.'

A spokesman said at the time: ‘The STV web team prepared stories regarding each contestant in anticipation of the result and due to a technical hitch, all four stories went live on our website. We apologise.’

Amelia triumphed in the vote over James Michael, 2 Shoes and Jonjo Kerr. The pink-haired teenager gave a rousing version of Queen’s The Show Must Go On.

Just a week later, viewers were left grumbling about yet another 'fix' after Amelia replaced Misha B as the 'star' of the M&S Christmas campaign.

Early in the competition viewers had noted that Misha, who was eliminated on Sunday night, was given far more air time than any other contestant in the ad.

Too soon: An ITV blog announced that Miss Lily was returning to replace Frankie Cocozza last month, over an hour before it was announced on TV


But after Miss Lily's return to the show, she took the coveted end scenes and featured heavily in the ad.

Scores of fans took to Twitter to slam the change, with one user tweeting: 'What you playing at? You trying to give subliminal messages? FIX FIX FIX.'

Another user wrote on the social networking site: 'Oooh. Trying to predict the winner are we, X Factor?'

A spokesperson for the chain insists they chose to make the switch as they change the advert according to which contestants remain on the show.

The representative said: 'X Factor contestants come and go every single week. The ad is constantly changing to reflect the show.'

Deja vu: Last year, contestant Mary Byrne cried foul when the show changed the rules at the last minute to ensure the judges decided on the 2010 finalists rather than the public alone


And it's not just this year that the 'Fix Factor' row has dominated. Last year contestant Mary Byrne cried foul when instead of the public alone deciding on the four 2010 finalists, the judges were allowed to make the final decision at the last minute.

As was done this year, Dermot O'Leary had informed viewers that it was their votes alone that would decide on the four contestants to go through to the final, but at the eleventh hour the two contestants with fewest votes had to compete in a sing-off, with the judges deciding to axe Miss Byrne, 50, and save Cher Lloyd, 17.

Thousands of viewers accused show bosses of changing the rules to ensure Miss Lloyd would get through, while there were over 300 complaints to TV watchdog Ofcom and 50 to ITV.

At the time, Miss Byrne told how show producers warned her of the voting changes late on Saturday evening, contradicting ITV sources who said the decision was made weeks before.


source:dailymail