30 year old Shirlena Johnson, who would have been a finalist in this year’s X Factor, has been removed from the competition because of serious mental health problems.

Shirlena stunned viewers with a unique performance of Duffy’s “Mercy” last Saturday, and subsequently made it through boot camp. Producers now have to make a decision on whether to remove footage of her from the show.

“I’m devastated. It’s heartbreaking,” Simon Cowell said of the situation. “I really feel for her. I’m very upset and disappointed. The advice I’m given is she can’t do the show. If we don’t take the advice we’re irresponsible.”

No, not the location of the houses the judges live in – instead where contestants are off to for the “judge’s house” section of the competition, where the live finalists are selected.

SIMON
Location: Los Angeles, California.
Helpers: Kelly Rowland and Clive Davis

CHERYL:
Location: Miami, Florida.
Helpers: Derek Hough and Nicole Scherzinger

LOUIS:
Location: Nice, France.
Helpers: Brian McFadden and Delta Goodrem

DANNII:
Location: Australia
Helpers: Kylie Minogue and Rodney Jerkins

There’s speculation that there will be no X Factor next year, at least in the UK.

This is because the X Factor is set to launch in the US September of next year, and Simon Cowell is anxious to ensure that he can concentrate his full attention on that.

The show would instead be shifted forward by six months, starting in March 2012 and the next March ever year subsequently.

The move would also mean that the X Factor winners single would no longer be vying for the Xmas number one – a feat Joe McElderry famously failed to reach last year.

Simon Cowell has apparently been laying down the law to those hoping to be X Factor finalists, drawing up a list of songs he doesn’t want to hear.

The list of banned songs includes Kings of Leon’s Sex On Fire, and anything by Paolo Nutini, but inexplicably fails to include You Raise Me Up, or Flying Without Wings.

Other songs banned include Chasing Cars, Songbird and I’m Yours.