“Sort the sound out!”: X Factor viewers angry after "Dalek" audio problem plagues show

X Factor viewers have been left covering their ears tonight ­after a technical fault severely scrambled the show’s audio.

Although the first hour of the show aired without technical issues, the ITV contest returned from an advert break with a robotic-like audio quality.

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With the live show being pre-recorded (for the first time in the show’s 15-year history), host Dermot O’Leary couldn’t acknowledge the poor sound quality to viewers. Instead, ITV could only post small message on screen: “We are sorry for the temporary interference in sound”.

https://twitter.com/BethanyMJane/status/1058832925704314883

And although many viewers at home were left angry with the error…

https://twitter.com/annie_1245/status/1058832482139824134

https://twitter.com/flrowlands/status/1058832451865329664

https://twitter.com/RevPaul/status/1058831492707729408

Others soon laughed as they noticed the fault made everyone on screen sound like a Dalek…

https://twitter.com/Jonny_Dodds/status/1058830967387971584

https://twitter.com/JackBatchelor3/status/1058831287849496576

https://twitter.com/ChrisMoyles/status/1058833693836484608

https://twitter.com/PolymathBGD/status/1058832504776474625

https://twitter.com/jacksorm/status/1058833877475700737

https://twitter.com/JonathanFrizze7/status/1058832218490052608

Fortunately, the sound issues were sorted when the show next returned from an advert break some 10 minutes later...

https://twitter.com/gabstarb/status/1058837309280403461

But some couldn’t help incredibly sorry for singers Danny Tetley and Anthony Russell, whose performances were ruined by the problem. And since the show wasn’t live, the pair were unable to perform again on the night.

https://twitter.com/AmyThompsonNew/status/1058831576031731714