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The X Factor embroiled in new fix claims as it emerges '22 of the 24 wannabes put through to Judges' House were approached by producers'

Published: 03:24 EST, 6 September 2015 | Updated: 07:43 EST, 6 September 2015

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It's no secret that anyone can audition for The X Factor, regardless of their experience.

But on Sunday it emerged that almost all of the wannabes who make it through to Judges' Houses this series are allegedly experienced performers or rising stars with millions of fans on YouTube.

According to the Daily Star Sunday, 22 of the 24 hopefuls who make it through to the final hurdle were invited to audition by the show's talent scouts.

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The best of the best: Twenty-two of the 24 X Factor hopefuls that have made it through to Judges' Houses were invited by producers to audition for the show, including show favourite Louisa Johnson (pictured)

With head honcho Simon Cowell desperate to claw back ratings with this year's revamp, producers - convinced that Britain's talent pool is drying up - have left no stone unturned on their mission to get the best of the best auditioning for the show.

The newspaper claims that 80 per cent of hopefuls in the six seat challenge, and 92 per cent of those that go through, were cast by production.

It has also emerged that soul singer Louisa Johnson, who has starred in her own professional music videos and covered Who's Loving You in the first week of auditions, originally auditioned for Britain's Got Talent.

Impressed: Simon Cowell is desperate to claw back ratings this year and producers, convinced that Britain's talent pool is drying up, have left no stone unturned

The 17-year-old, who is already the favourite to win, was told to apply for X Factor because producers believed she was more suited to the singing contest and her BGT audition was never aired.

'The days of Tesco Mary walking in to audition off her own bat and blowing away the judges are gone,' the publication's insider revealed.

'As far as producers are concerned it is a talent show and they will do all they can to ensure the country's top talent auditions.'

Ready-made girlband! The judges were blown away by Alien's audition on Saturday night's show

Babe: Stephanie McCourt, a 27-year-old songwriter from London, left judges unmoved with her rendition of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off but turned her audition around when she performed Ella Fitzgerald's Summertime

Potential winners? Simon Lynch (left) impressed all four judges with his performance while Jamie Benkert (right) failed to impress Simon with his Olly Murs impression

The X Factor was initially about giving unknown singers their big break when it first launched in 2005 but in 2012 bosses changed the rules to enable acts with management to enter, something producers aren't ashamed to admit.

An X Factor spokesman explained: 'We make no secret of the fact that, as is the case with many TV talent shows, we do approach individuals and organisations to make them aware of auditions.

'Everyone who applies goes through the same process and is judged on their performance during their audition.

Blown away: All four judges have been well impressed with this year's batch of hopefuls

'Louisa auditioned for Britain's Got Talent in 2014 but her audition was never aired. After this the X Factor approached her to ask if she would like to audition for the show.

'The judges are not aware of anyone's background in advance and no one is ever guaranteed that they will go through to the next stage.'

This year the programme has failed to stem the decline in ratings with the show's opening episode being the show's worst ratings performance since 2006, two million behind last year.

Slick: Fourth Power sailed through to the next round with Cowell gushing about 'the biggest four yeses we've ever given'

Those who did sit down to watch the launch of the 12th series last week were treated to Filipina girl band Fourth Power, who sailed through to the next round with judge Cowell gushing about 'the biggest four yeses we've ever given'.

However the four sisters are already reality TV stars in their native country, after appearing on two X Factor-style shows there and one in South Korea. They have also reportedly released records on Amazon, and are incredibly popular online with more than two million views on YouTube.

Cowell had reportedly said that producers did 'a great job' in finding the band. But a show spokesman has since denied that they were scouted, insisting they auditioned of their own accord.

She's a natural! Lauren Murray – who was presented as a receptionist with dreams of stardom – has at least four years' experience in the music industry

Meanwhile 19-year-old student Tom Bleasby – who earned a standing ovation – was a YouTube superstar long before auditioning for the show and had dueted with pop star Jessie J in an online video.

Lauren Murray – who was presented as a receptionist with dreams of stardom – has at least four years' experience in the music industry. The 25-year-old also appears in a professionally-shot music video online and appeared to be releasing an album.

Twenty-one-year-old Mason Noise is a rising star in British urban music, and has boasted how his song Take A Seat was played on MTV in America.

Flying solo: Tom Bleasby, 19, (left) was a YouTube superstar long before auditioning for the show and had dueted with pop star Jessie J in an online video while Mason Noise (right) is a rising star in British urban music