[starttext]
By Sara Nathan
Clean-up: Simon Cowell has banned auto-tuning technology, which was used to tweak the vocals of 18-year-old contestant Gamu Nhengu, rightSimon Cowell has banned auto-tuning on The X Factor after the row over tampering with performers' vocals.
In a widespread clean-up of the show, he also scrapped this week's planned episode at the last minute as it did not meet his strict criteria, the Daily Mail has learned.
Instead, an episode that was due to be shown later in the series will be broadcast on Saturday evening.
Cowell, 50, said: 'People have got to be able to trust The X Factor - we are not faking anything.
'People love this show, millions watch it every week and we absolutely respect that, we never take it for granted.'
Cowell has spent the week locked in talks with producers after it emerged that some hopefuls on last Saturday's series opener, including 18-year-old Gamu Nhengu, had their vocals tweaked using auto-tuning software. More than 300 fans complained to ITV.
Last night a source close to Cowell said: 'From now on, nothing is going to be done to the sound on The X Factor.
'It's not been the greatest week and Simon was up till 3am on Thursday morning working on the show. Two shows are edited concurrently and he made the decision that viewers need to have the best show this week.'
Viewers will now be shown the episode originally planned for September 4 this weekend.
Doctored: The voice of Caroline from G and S may have also been auto-tuned'The sound edit is not done until Saturday afternoon, so whatever was said about shows being forced to be reeditedto get rid of the auto-tuning is absolute nonsense,' the source added.
'The thing that really riles Simon is the notion that some people think The X Factor is using auto-tuning to make people sound worse for entertainment. [You can't] - just as you can't use it to make a bad singer into a good singer.'
Earlier this week programme chiefs said sound filters were not used to give anyone an advantage, but to remove additional noises.
They said there were 43 microphones in every auditorium during auditions, with 3,500 spectators.
The source added: 'If we just left the vocals as they were they would be drowned out. Vocals are edited to help viewers hear the contestant.'
The technology has also been used in previous series. Last night a show spokesman confirmed: 'There will be no auto-tune in audition shows or competitive performances on live shows.'
Producers have also been forced to axe single mother Shirlena Johnson, 30, from the show after she misled them over the extent of her mental illness.
Miss Johnson stunned the judges with her wild performances.
Cowell said: 'I would never put someone forward to the judges' houses round if they did not have talent - and purely for entertainment value. I loved her.'
source :dailymail
[endtext]