Forcing cancellation of first batch of X Factor auditions
THE first X Factor auditions of the new season have been cancelled following the death of Simon Cowell’s mother Julie, it has been announced.
Mr Cowell’s family confirmed that the 89-year-old died on Sunday leaving them ‘devastated’.
Cowell’s brother Tony said: ‘Very sad night tonight. We will all miss Mum so very much. She was the heart and soul of our family.’
Mrs Cowell was married to EMI music executive Eric, who died in 1999, aged 81.
Auditions for the ITV talent show were due to begin in Manchester today but will now no longer go ahead, a spokesman for Syco Entertainment confirmed.
He said: ‘They were due to start today and carry on into Tuesday and Wednesday. Today’s have been cancelled and we have not made any decisions beyond that.’The first try-outs for the new-look show were expected to be attended by Cowell and fellow judges Rita Ora and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, as well as new presenters Olly Murs and Caroline Flack.
A spokesman for Mr Cowell’s family said: ‘Today our beloved mum Julie passed away. Anyone who had met her would know what a truly special and kind lady she was.
‘We are heartbroken and will miss her terribly, but she is now at peace.’
Mrs Cowell was the mother of four boys - Simon and his brothers Nicholas, Tony and Michael, and step-mother to John and June.
A spokesman for the family added: ‘We would like to thank the media for kindly respecting Julie’s privacy throughout and we politely request continued privacy for the entire family at this particularly difficult time.’
A friend of Simon added to The Sun newspaper: ‘Simon is absolutely devastated. His mum was the most beloved person in his life and they were incredibly close.
‘But at least she got to see him settle down and start a family which was one of the great wishes of her life. Julie had been unwell for some time and she was in a home. But Simon and his brothers were in constant contact with her and the family remained very close.
‘They had been paying regular visits to her bedside and it’s been a God send that Simon hadn’t had to do too much work in the US over the last year. He’s completely heartbroken.’
The sad news of Julie’s death came the day before the new series of The X Factor was due to get underway, with the first auditions taking place in Manchester.
