X Factor house closed off to show fans

The road next to the X Factor house is staying shut to keep out hundreds of fans flocking to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars. Roadblocks are in place at either end of the street at Golders Green, north London, where contestants on the ITV show are living for six days. Fans have spent their half term donning "Jedward" masks, in honour of the spiky-haired twins John and Edward Grimes. Meanwhile, Simon Cowell has hit out at the pair, saying it would be a "disaster" if the 18-year-old Irish duo win. Speaking at a press conference for the Children's Hospices UK charity, he said it was impossible to predict the winner of this year's competition, but that he knew who he did not want to triumph. "I'm just praying it's not John and Edward," he said. "But there's a chance, according to reports this week, that they will.

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ITN | October 30, 2009

Tags:. .winner. .conference. .irish. .spent. .hundreds