X Factor staff were reportedly left red faced last week, as Easyjet refused to grant them 85 free flights in return for a plug on the ITV show.

Despite being awarded an extra £4 million from ITV towards this year’s budget, insiders say that Simon Cowell has ordered them to cut costs wherever possible and to try and land as many freebies as they can.

Their first attempt was to ask Easyjet to fly 85 crew members to a European destination, where they would presumably be filming Louis Walsh’s judges houses episodes, without charging them a penny. In return, producers are thought to have promised the company some free advertising when the show starts next week.

A member of staff told The People:

They turned us down point blank and you cant blame them. Everyone knows we got this bumper deal this series and were having to go round begging.

They were shocked wed asked for so much. Thats why I had to speak out. Its wrong. The attitude is we should get what we want as were The X Factor.

The source also claimed that crew members had been forced to use the London Underground, despite the fact that they were carrying heavy equipment. They continued:

We even have to try to get free clothes for the acts in live shows. Not a penny is wasted.

According to what Simon had said, viewers should see £4 million more on that live show stage and producers are making sure they don’t spend it elsewhere.

Last night easyJet said: “It would be inappropriate to comment on individual requests.”