A document leaked to The Sun, has suggested that X Factor presenters have been told to back John and Edward Grimes.

In a bid to stop the hate campaign, X Factor bosses reportedly sent a memo to Holly Willoughby, Dermot O’Leary and PR staff saying it would “be great to defend John and Edward.”

A source said: “Bosses didn’t expect the twins to get such a bad reaction from the public. They want people on their side.”

The memo also told the presenters to toe the party line, on issues like judge rivalry and Louis Walsh’s predictions that his category will lose.

The source added: “Even Simon Cowell was annoyed with what Louis said. He made it sound as if he didn’t care about his acts. Producers don’t want viewers to think that.”