Simon Cowell has cancelled the quadruple elimination on this weekend's 'The X Factor'.

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell

The ITV talent show's host, Dermot O'Leary, announced last Sunday (05.11.17) two competitors would get the boot on both Saturday (11.11.17) and Sunday (12.11.17) evening, but the show has since made a U-turn and decided against the major format twist because the 58-year-old music mogul thinks it is "unfair" to axe "great talent".

Speaking about the decision to prevent the major shake-up, an ITV source told the Radio Times Online: "We have some great talent on the show this year. Simon [Cowell] thinks it's unfair to cut the numbers so drastically when contestants are doing so well."

And the programme's producers will revert back to the original format because they are keen to give the hopefuls "more time to shine" and want the viewers to "pick their favourites".

The insider added: "Talent this year is exceptional and with less weeks of live shows producers want to give them more time to shine and more time for the audiences pick their favourites."

ITV have also confirmed the elimination will remain as it has been over the past few weeks, which will see a one competitor leave the show each night of the live shows this weekend.

ITV confirmed: "This weekend's show will feature one act leaving on Saturday and one act leaving on Sunday."

This news will no doubt be a huge relief for the budding artists, who have recently been plagued by a sickness bug.

The Price brothers, Holly Tandy and Matt Linnen, have been struck down with Norovirus and have been confined to their beds, and bosses of the singing show fear no one will be fit enough to perform their George Michael renditions.

A separate source previously said: "They've started dropping like flies. They're all having early nights and resting their bodies and voices. We can't afford to have no shows."