Simon Cowell has reportedly been scheming to get The X Factor hopeful Christopher Maloney off the show.
The show boss, who is away [uuid=e4ee9b0c-038d-4076-8cbe-3cfdcb01f9f5]working on the US version of the programme[/uuid], is claimed to have been alarmed by the nervy 34-year-old topping the public vote in the first two live shows.
And The Mirror reports that Gary Barlow, who mentors Chris on the show, has been left fuming after SiCo reportedly called or sent texts to the other judges urging them to criticise him.
A source told the paper: "Chris winning or even getting further into the competition is a disaster for Cowell.
"He wants Chris out and the fact that his mentor is Gary Barlow makes him even more desperate to get him kicked off."
And the paper's mole also claimed that the prospect of Barlow losing a third act so early in the contest "would make things even sweeter for Cowell because they are at war".
Maloney is claimed have developed a [uuid=19a83daf-d2a5-449b-973b-a34ceab75942]reputation for diva behaviour[/uuid] among his rivals and staff on the show.

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