For the first time ever, the U.K. version of “The X Factor” will allow contestants to audition for the talent show from the cozy confines of their humble abodes. This will no doubt increase the program’s freak factor by several interesting notches. If you thought the people who showed up in person to try out were strange, wait until you get a load of the shut-ins who are looking to make their reclusive musical dreams come true.

The show, masterminded by the infamous Simon Cowell, is teaming up with Facebook to allow users to submit videos of their greatest performances for the judges’ consideration. Wannabe singers will have until May 8th to upload their material to the website. After that, it’s back to crooning alone in front of the bedroom mirror.

The show’s open auditions tour has already come to a close. Contestants from that venue will eventually meet up with those who moved forward via Facebook for the ultimate on-stage showdown. All you have to do to submit your own undiscovered masterpiece is to head to their official page, click on the “Audition Now!” tab, and upload your gem onto the internet. Easy as pie.

News of the Facebook pairing was overshadows a bit by The Sun’s serialization of an unauthorized biography of Simon Cowell, a tome which chronicles the notoriously blunt Brit’s adventures in the world of colonic cleansing. Additionally, the tell-all will touch on Cowell’s Botox habits, as well as his affinity for vitamin injections. Sounds like a wonderful summer read.

If you crave even more Cowell-related news, apparently he’s none too pleased about former Take That member Gary Barlow’s return to the show next season. “Simon was never Gary’s biggest fan and really wanted to boot him out and get someone else in,” a source told the Daily Star. “He thought he was a bit dull.”

Sounds like this is just another day in the life of Simon Cowell.