Last week, it was claimed that the finals would take place at the Excel Centre in east London this year rather than their current home at Fountain Studios, Wembley.

Proposals for the shift allegedly came amid fears that the ITV1 talent show had “outgrown” its existing live rounds venue due to the bigger scale of auditions and boot camp this year.

However, an insider has now told The Mirror: “It was a real possibility for a while but as it is not designed as a TV studio it would have cost too much to bring in all the equipment like broadcasting systems and sound stages.”

It is believed that producers have decided to settle for the cheaper option of redesigning the existing set in preparation for the live shows.

The news ties in with rumours that Simon Cowell will have his own “chillout room” at the Fountain Studios this year.