X-Factor votes skewed by voters voting for free...

There are reports in a number of newspapers on how thousands are voting unofficially for free in the X-Factor show.

Voters are said to be able to vote for the free through sites such as free2call.tv, all that is required of them is that they listen to a 15-second online advert.

ITV has held a crisis meeting with regulator Ofcom last Wednesday, and, underlining the gravity of the problem, lawyers from Channel 4 and the BBC also attended amid worries it may have implications for other shows, such as Strictly Come Dancing.

No one from outside Britain is allowed to vote on The X Factor and attempts to make premium-rate calls from abroad are instantly blocked.

But Mark Hillman, the businessman behind free2call.tv, conceded that up to 12% of the 50,000 X Factor viewers who have used his service are from Ireland. As well as being in breach of the rules, Mr Boddington said this was 'likely to distort the voting patterns in favour of those contestants or judges that have an association with Ireland'.

Although Mr Boddington didn't mention them by name, one of the acts on the show, twins John and Edward Grimes - dubbed Jedward by their fans - are from Dublin. And one of Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole's fellow judges, Louis Walsh - who 'mentors' the twins - is also Irish.


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