The Mirror has reported that Simon Cowell has not seen his final three X factor acts for a month, despite the fact that their first live show is only three days away.

Simon has kept up with Austin Drage, Scott Bruton and Eoghan Quigg through an assistant and a show source told the newspaper: “He’s not exactly been hands on. Simon is busy but he could have called to make them feel special.”

Scott Bruton, added: “He’s always in LA doing promotion for American Idol, flitting here and there.”

In direct contrast, new judge Cheryl Cole has had her finalists over to dinner and keeps in touch by phone regularly.

Alexandra Burke, said: “She even texted me at 2am last night to see how my hair was doing.”