Simon Cowell’s flashy new talent search to find ‘the next One Direction’ has hit another snag, with two rounds of auditions reportedly being axed by bosses.

The music mogul recently set out on a quest to find the next incarnation of the boy band after admitting there had not been a band as successful since.

With plans for the search to appear in a Netflix documentary called The Midas Touch.

However, it’s now been reported by The Sun that the first two rounds of auditions in Newcastle, which were due to kick off on Thursday July 4, have been axed by bosses.

This has reduced the number of auditions, previously branded a ‘nationwide hunt,’ from nine to just seven.

It’s also been reported that in a bid to build interest, bosses were enlisting TikTok stars and influencers to promote the call-out for auditions itself.

And were reaching out to a number of content creators.

Simon had previously surprised the music industry by announced that he was launching his talent search in Newcastle first, followed by Liverpool, Dublin and London.

He said at the time: ‘There’s always a high degree of risk and I genuinely have no idea what’s going to happen! 

‘We might uncover an incredible group; we might not get there. What if no one shows up to auditions? That could be awkward.’

Simon has previously shared his excitement at kicking off his boyband search in the north-east hotspot, having previously discovered stars such as James Arthur and Cheryl in the city.

He added: ‘I wanted to go to places with fun people, so Newcastle, yeah. I like the people from Newcastle.’

Representatives for Simon previously told The Sun that the Newcastle auditions were never cancelled because no venues had been booked, noting it was due to ‘travel schedules.’ MailOnline has contacted representatives for furhter comment

Doubts had previously cast on Simon’s grand new talent search on Tuesday, when a singer issued a savage message to the Britain’s Got Talent judge after he was approached by a casting director to audition for the ‘next One Direction.’

In his search for his newest stars, Simon has been seen taking to the streets of London with a sign that read: ‘Simon needs you. Future megastars wanted for new boyband.’ 

Meanwhile, his team of casting directors have been reaching out to potential candidates online, but one was not impressed. 

Fin Power from Liverpudlian band STONE, claimed he had received a message from someone on behalf of Simon and shared his brutal response. 

He explained: ‘I got this message from someone on behalf of Simon Cowell. ‘Hello, Fin. I’m contacting you on behalf of Simon Cowell!’

‘We are working with him to scout singers around the age of 16-18 years old for a new boyband, which is being filmed as part of a potential televised documentary following him on his search.

‘The company following Simon Cowell is BTBSC Series Ltd, trading as Box-to-Box Films. I’d like to provide you with further information about how you would like to audition for this, if you are interested.”

Responding, Fin wrote: ‘Tell Simon to go f*** himself.’

MailOnline contacted Simon’s representatives for comment at the time. 

Simon recently signed a huge deal with streaming giant Netflix for a new show in his bid to find the ‘next One Direction’ – which he has named Simon Cowell: Midas Touch.

A source revealed to The Sun that Simon is in the end stages of finalising the deal with the streamer.

They said: ‘Netflix is the perfect place for his new show and Box To Box, who are producing the series, have worked with them before.

‘Simon and his team have been working so hard on getting the show off the ground and a final deal is so close now.’

The name of the show has amused people behind the scenes, it has been said. 

The source added: ‘Simon knows he is the best at what he does and calling his show Midas Touch gives a new meaning to blowing your own trumpet.’ 

It was revealed on Saturday that Simon fears the UK is not finding enough breakthrough talent, saying record labels are not signing enough new stars, who face too much competition online.

Simon, who had global success with One Direction and Westlife, is determined to change that with a new project in which he holds auditions for a new band.

He told The Daily Mail: ‘Right now record labels aren’t signing enough new talent.

‘So the amount of UK artists who are breaking worldwide has literally fallen off a cliff because I think there is too much competition online.

‘People don’t knock on your door saying, ‘I’ve got a new band’. It doesn’t happen. You’ve got to go out there yourself and do it. So that’s what we are doing.’

Simon was seen putting up a giant billboard of his own face in a bid to drum up publicity for his new show earlier this month.

He surprised passersby in London as he erected the mammoth poster to launch his nationwide hunt for the next big boyband.

Simon decided his star presence was needed to plug his next project after Britain’s Got Talent received the worst ratings in its 17-year history – despite the head judge claiming it was the best final he has seen in a long time.

Dressed in dungarees, the head judge got to work with a bucket and brush in hand. 

He left Londoners shocked as he proceeded to smooth out a giant poster of his own face alongside the words: ‘Simon needs you. Future megastars wanted for new boyband. No time wasters.’

The last British pop act to find global success was Dua Lipa, who was signed by Warner Records in 2014. 

In contrast, in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s there was no shortage of world-beating musical acts such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Wham! and Take That.

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Source: CNN