X Factor bosses have now outlawed the use of voice enhancement techniques, commonly known as auto-tune, to improve participants’ performances, after show creator and judge Simon Cowell announced his shock and anger at the revelations.

It follows a public backlash after it was revealed that the opening show of the current series saw some singers’ voices improved by the technology, also known as auto-tune, with unsuspecting targeted performances including the star of last weekend’s show, Gamu Nhenghu. A spokeswoman claimed: “There will be no auto-tune in the audition shows or for competitive performances on live shows”.

Earlier this week, TV bosses had insisted that they only used the technology during auditions in order to remove any unwanted background noise. Auto-tune has become a common tool throughout the music industry and is now often used to create a robot-like effect on a singer’s voice. The move to ban the technology will be a relief to American fans of the hit show, which is set to launch a USA X Factor version in 2011.

Over 11.1million people watched the opening episode on Saturday, while series 7 of the X Factor as a whole will run until December.

The first episode saw a good selection of the usual mix of promising talents and oddball no-hopers, with the pick of the action coming from the bizarre (but successful) antics of Shirlina Johnson, with no description seeming to do her song justice, so please take this opportunity to enjoy her performance below:

Incoming TV searches:x factor background music 2010, youtube music xfacter, x factor youtube, x factor australia songs played, x factor background music, background music x factor, background music played on x factor 2010 Australia, you tube – x-factor, you tube 2010 x factor 1st audition, australian x factor background music, why is gamu off you tube, what is the x factor background music, what was the name of the soft song played in the background of last night