Cowell’s second no show
X Factor boss missing from second show
SIMON COWELL was forced to pull out of a second live show in a row last night on his doctor’s orders.
Alesha Dixon replaced the music mogul who was taken to hospital on Friday after collapsing in his London mansion.
SIMON Cowell sparked fresh fears for his health last night as he pulled out of a second live X Factor show in a row.
The music mogul was forced to stay at home again following his fall down stairs – meaning that he missed his acts’ debut performances.
The X Factor boss, 58, was taken to hospital on Friday after fainting and tumbling in his London mansion.
Sources close to the star said he had been getting his son Eric a cup of warmed milk when he “felt unwell” and fell.
Paramedics were called and he was taken to hospital on a stretcher.
Simon had suffered concussion and had to have a scan.
The father-of-one was later discharged from hospital and was seen wearing a blood pressure monitor as he returned home in a Range Rover with his entourage.
He tried to put on a brave face by giving a thumbs-up to reporters.
But he missed Saturday night’s X Factor and last night his medical team refused to let him back under the hot studio lights for the Sunday night show.
Simon was replaced on the judging panel by Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon. As the show opened, host Dermot O’Leary said: “Simon is still not well enough to be here but, fear not, in his stead we’ve bought in a hugely talented superstar, Alesha Dixon.”
Mystery
Alesha joked that she was given “five hours’ notice” and added: “I was chilling out on the couch with my daughter, my only day off, and I get the call…”
She also claimed that she “won’t be as nasty” as Cowell but she will be honest.
An insider revealed: “With how hot it can get in the studio, doctors felt it would be much better for Simon to rest up.
“It makes sense that he recovers fully before heading back into the studio. “We just don’t want to take risks.” Alesha is no stranger to filling a judge’s shoes on the show.
Earlier this year the former Strictly Come Dancing judge was a hit when she stood in for Nicole Scherzinger.
X Factor boss Simon was forced to take time off from the ITV show earlier this year due to poor health.
He missed several auditions after being stricken with “mystery illnesses”.
With only three judges on Saturday night’s panel, viewing figures for the Halloween week show nosedived. The live episode averaged 5.2million viewers and peaked at 5.9m. The programme was down 500,000 viewers on last year’s Halloween episode.
Strictly was the hands-down ratings winner on Saturday with an average audience of 10.6m that peaked at 11.7m.
Talia Dean last night became the second person to be booted off the X Factor live shows.
The wildcard in Nicole’s Overs category lost out after the public vote.
She said of her fellow contestants: “They are all amazing.”