UPDATE: FOR ALL THE UP TO DATE NEWS AND GOSSIP ON AUSTIN CLICK HERE

Todays newspapers have brought us yet another X Factor fix story, this time concerning auditionee, Austin Drage.

The Mirror newspaper has claimed that Austin was friends with Cheryl Cole before auditioning for the show after hos old band supported Girls Aloud in concert in 2004.

‘He had a completely unfair advantage,’ said an X Factor source to the Daily Mirror.

‘He has worked with Cheryl in the past and they are friends, so it seems obvious she was going to put him through.’

The paper also reported that, Cheryl even dated one of Austin’s band members Brett Warren.

However X Factor bosses are denying the story to the hilt and made a statement saying:

Austin was in boyband 5Boyz, which we have always been aware of (and has been widely reported), but despite Girls Aloud once appearing on the same billing at a show one night, Cheryl has never met nor had a friendship with Austin, nor has she ever had a relationship with former 5Boyz member Brett.

Austin has entered the competition and had to face and receive three yes’s from the Judges just like any other contestant. He has at no point had an advantage over other contestants in the show.