X Factor Filming Halted After Hurricane Strikes  10/2/06

British TV talent show The X Factor had to halt filming in Miami, Florida, last week (ends01OCT06) when the area was hit by Hurricane Gordon.

Judge Simon Cowell had invited eight semi-finalists to his mansion in the luxurious area in order to select four finalists for the live shows later in the series.

But his plans were ruined when 80 mile-per-hour winds lashed the coast, delaying flights and causing filming to be put on hold.

A show insider says, "Simon loves Miami, he often spends his holidays there.

We hired a beautiful, ocean-front mansion for the filming, but it was chaos.

"The pool was flooded and patio furniture was flying around."