X Factor hopefuls auditioning for this year's show have apparently been caught stealing items from backstage areas.
According to a report in The Sun, producers are said to have footage of "hundreds of contestants" taking cosmetics and perfumes from rehearsal rooms filmed through two-way mirrors.
The situation has caused a dilemma for show bosses because some of the offenders have a "great chance" of making it to the live shows. They are apparently considering broadcasting the footage or axing them from the show.
A show source told The Sun: "It has been really funny for the crew watching people slipping stuff into handbags. It's often the people you would least expect - the quieter folk. They seem to forget they're being filmed, although they've all been warned there are cameras behind the mirrors.
"The problem is, the scenes could play a part in the public vote when the live rounds come round. It looks like the footage will be left out but it might still end up on the spin-off show 'The Xtra Factor'."
'The X Factor' returns to TV3 and UTV later this year.
