X Factor groups hope to follow success of One Direction

Auditions for 'The X Factor' have been inundated with groups who are desperate to become the next One Direction.

Although the boy band - mad up of Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne - did not win last year's series, they are expected to enjoy huge success after being signed to mentor Simon Cowell's record label, and now hopefuls are keen to follow in their footsteps by shunning the solo route and forming bands instead.

An insider said: "One Direction have totally changed the ball game this year. Every other act is now a band and they have put so much effort into their appearances. We've been putting far more group acts through than in previous years."

However, production staff on the ITV1 talent show have suggested the quality of the acts is down on previous years, as they fear some singers have been put off by the uncertainty of the judging line-up.

Both Simon and Cheryl Cole are reportedly set to quit the show in favour of the American version, while Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh have yet to sign up and insiders are worried contestants don't have the same faith.

The source added to The Sun newspaper: "The talent pool is drying up. Production is finding itself in the situation where literally everyone who should have done so has already tried out.

"The fact Simon and Cheryl might not be there is also having an impact as people are obsessed by them. They figure they'll try out another year when they're back."