X Factor at centre of new fix storm after Ottavio Columbro previously auditioned with Rylan Clark… but kept it quiet from judges
The singer belted out Respect alongside Rylan in 2012
X FACTOR faces fresh "fix" claims after we first revealed hopeful Ottavio Columbro previously auditioned for the show in 2012 – alongside Rylan Clark-Neal.
The singer, who caused quite the stir when he appeared on Saturday's show as part of a double act with Bradley Hunt, was grouped with the Xtra Factor presenter at Boot Camp in series nine.
The 24-year-old, who is a fashion PR student from Southampton, raised eyebrows four years ago - in what Nicole Scherzinger branded a ‘diva hoedown’ - after he and Rylan fell out with the other singer they had been put in a group with.
The pair had to sing Aretha Franklin’s Respect alongside fellow singer Gathan Cheema but the boys couldn’t see eye to eye about who would sing which bit.
Speaking to Dermot before singing for the then judges Louis, Nicole, Gary and Tulisa, Rylan admitted he had lost his voice because they had been ‘rowing all night’.
Ottavio agreed, saying: “I’ve got a swollen larynx.”
He added: “I’m not confident now – not not at all.”
The Sun Online also revealed how Ottavio's singing partner, Bradley Hunt, tried to hide his previous involvement with the singing show too.
Prior to Saturday's audition - Bradley had auditioned twice before in 2012 and 2013, and later branded the programme "boring and s***" after they cut him from the TV edit.
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