[Red Moon]

X Factor Votes Row Cost £10million

THE X Factor is losing up to £10million in phone votes after ITV were rapped for conning viewers.

Sources say the number of fans ringing to register their vote is down by half on some weeks.

A report last month revealed how some viewers were conned in the last series of the X Factor.

Fourteen per cent of the phone votes were received too late to be included in last year's final count - but viewers were still charged.

A source said: "Voting levels are down by about 50 per cent."

It is believed that voting on live shows in the last series brought in up to £20million.

Viewing figures for the current series of the talent show, starring judge Simon Cowell, are up on last year, at about eight million. But that popularity has not been matched by votes.

Last month, the ITV director of television, Simon Shaps, claimed voting levels were "still pretty healthy" for The X Factor.

In a bid to restore viewers' trust, ITV have removed text and red button voting from the show.

That has also contributed to the drop in the number of viewers voting for their favourite act.

AIDS campaigners hope Dannii Minogue has the X Factor in helping young people to beat the disease.

The reality show judge, who has been the Terrence Higgins Trust's youth ambassador since 2004, released this flirty photo with a serious message to mark World AIDS Day tomorrow.

Source: Daily Record