XFactor Final 12

SIMON COWELL was fuming last night after this year's 12 X Factor finalists were leaked on the internet.

Cowell and his team had been determined to keep their identities secret until they were announced on ITV next weekend.
But a show insider leaked the information and yesterday it was posted on contestant Rachel Hylton's unofficial website.

The website boasted: "Hot off the Press, this year's finalists have just been leaked.
"If you do not want to know the final 12 contestants for the X Factor 2008 live shows, click here now and see the Top 10 Toys for Christmas."

Links led to a page listing the finalists and the judges set to mentor them. The website is understood to have had the right names, but they were quickly taken down.
A source said: "The site claims to have been set up by a pal of Rachel but she knows nothing about it.

The bosses learned of the leak within hours and moved to get the page down.
"They hope just a few fans saw it and the names won't spread.
"Simon Cowell was furious because he knows one of the biggest shows of the series is the 'reveal' of finalists.

"He doesn't want anyone to ruin it." Last night, an X Factor spokesman admitted bosses had asked a fans' website to take down the information.
He said: "A list of unconfirmed X Factor names was put on the internet but have been removed.
"We will be revealing the actual line-up for the final on ITV next weekend."
The leak comes as Cowell tonight lives up to his Mr Nasty nickname by leaving Rachel in a flood of tears.

He slated the single mum when she questioned his view on her performance.
The former drug addict is among 150 singers who compete to be one of the 24 to be mentored by Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole.
The boot camp stage will be screened on ITV1 tonight and tomorrow.