X Factor judge, Simon Cowell, is said to be furious with Mariah Carey after she delayed Friday night’s rehearsals by more than three hours.

The 8 acts waited to meet Carey in London’s Dorchester hotel on Friday afternoon for three hours, meaning that their rehearsals had to be delayed until late that night. Eoghan Quigg, who is too young to be in the studio after 7pm didn’t get to rehearse at all.

An X Factor insider said: "Simon was furious about the delays and really annoyed with Mariah. He just wanted the hopefuls to meet the star and get back to the studios.

"He got so frustrated at one stage he ordered an assistant to go to the Dorchester and order the contestants into their limos."

To make things worse, when Mariah did finally arrive she was flanked by 25 staff and threw a hissy fit because her dressing room was not good enough.

A source told The Sun: “I’d heard that Mariah was bad, but thought it was just rumours. Boy, was I wrong.

“We couldn’t find her for six hours, she had more staff than the Queen and then she threw a strop about the dressing room.”