Cowell Calls In Police Over BGT 'Fix' Claims

Simon Cowell has contacted police over claims that Britain's Got Talent is fixed to favour some contestants.

The person who made the allegations said they were an executive from Sony Music - the company which owns Cowell's Syco label - with "many years experience".

The claims about the ITV programme were made in an anonymous blog, which was later removed.

The post said 12-year-old Ronan Parke, who has made it through to Saturday's final, had been groomed to be successful and was known to Syco for two years.

It said the youngster auditioned after he was spotted by talent scouts when he sang at a birthday party for former Norwich City goalkeeper Bryan Gunn.

It also claimed Ronan already has a management deal and has been moulded to appeal to the audience.

Claims that his hairstyle, clothing and mannerisms were all planned by show insiders were also made.

The programme's production company has strongly denied the allegations.

In a statement it said: "There is no truth in this story whatsoever. Ronan first came to Syco/Sony's attention when he entered this year's competition."

"Syco/Sony Music will not hesitate to take whatever legal action is appropriate to prevent further publication of these unfounded allegations," it added.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "An allegation of malicious communications was
made to Kensington and Chelsea police on Thursday June 2.

"The allegation is being considered."

A source told the Sun newspaper the claims were "cruel lies about a child pursuing his dream".

"The hunt is on for this person," the source added.

Ronan's mother Maggie also dismissed the claims, and said her son's first contact with the show came when he applied online.

She said: "Me and my husband did not even know that he had applied. It was just something that he really wanted to do.

"He felt it was the right time for him to apply and the first we heard of it was when we got a phone call from Britain's Got Talent to say he had an audition."

Ronan is one of six acts which have already made it through to the ITV1 final.

He won the viewers' vote on Monday which automatically put him through to Saturday's show.