I am 14 and i am definately entering next year!! Who cares about if you don't make it! 14 isn't actually that young, it's old enough to be able to handle it maturely and understand that you don't always come back successful! Younger people deserve the chance too as i believe i would be pretty darn good! It annoys me when i see people complaining in case they lower it again next year, a si missed my chance this year because i was unaware!

Sophie, Felixstowe,

I'm not a singer but I think 14 is too young. not because of simon cowell but because 14 year olds and even 15 year olds might not be able to cope with being away from their family for so long. Also they will be more upset if they get booted out of camp rather than when they are 16.

Sammi, Isle of wight, england

At the moment I am only 12, I am in a band and we have CD's recorded and everything! I am the singer in the band we have done gigs band nights and everything! I always said I wanted to go on X Factor I am so glad I don't have to wait an extra 2 years!

Terri-Anne, corringham, essex

Everyone says i am a great singer and reccomend i should go on x factor but if i did would i risk public humiliation? Maybe! 1234 you should follow your dreams if your very positive but if not i would possibly wait! I say yes!

Chelsey, nottingham, england

i think thats it 's a great idea my parents say im a great singer so its cool cause i can go into x factor quicker than i would have so its all good maybe my bro might go in it would definatley inspire me!

Bethan , crawley, england

i think its a great idea im going the only thing is i dont want to be shown on tv if i dont get through. so i dunno. can sum1 reply to my comment jst type 1234 if your replyin plzzz

heather, london,

i think its a good idea.. many young people are great at singing and it gives younger people to have a go. im 14 and havent applied but i really wanna go on it.. well good luck everyone

ori.b-m, kent,

I Simply cant wait im audditiong and im soo happy i have waited for this for all my life! My name is Laura Messer remeber the name i cant wait .. im hopeing to be the next big thing ..good luck to everyone!

Laura Messer, London, UK

i cant wate, im 14 and will give those singers a real run 4 there money, i will win lol. Remember me jo heeley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no now i sound a r8 big 'ed' im not i come from a 'scrubber' enviroment and want to change my life 4 ever!!!!!

joe, chesterfield, england

i think its a great idea! i have always wanted to be on the x factor. not just because of the fame but i would like to give it a go. im 13 but 14 in july so i would like to audition straight away!! all i need to do now is practice on karaoke a bit more! hahahehe xx

Lauren, lowestoft, england

i think it a grate idea i am 13 i will be 14 in may and i am going to have a go i have Always wanted to be on it and now i can

jordan birkenhead , liverpool, uk

I think it`s great idea,i recently went to Cardiff.for auditions,i had to be with my daughter at all times,as she is 13,she is really looking forward to the auditions next year,for x-factor,she knows what to expect,i think it is a great opportunity,for fresh young talent to come along,we live in weston-super-mare,so if you pick a venue,it is easy to travel to.As we have T4 on the beach again this year!

Elizabeth, Weston-Super-Mare, uk

i think it's a great idea. many younger but talented singers dream of being on the show, and if they are serious about it, they will not get upset!

Craig, Glasgow,

I think its just stupid you shouldnt put a 14 year old in a singing idol like the x-factor even if there talented because by the time there 18 voice is going to change so thay will proberly not sound the same even if there voise has already changed.

jkc, margate, england

To be perfectly honest, even if a child were to win, i think the sheer pressure of that kind of life shouldn't be thrust upon anyone that young. It's an unpredictable lifestyle, and it will most likely only encourage the younger generation to dump preparing for a stable career with qualifications and such in favour of what appears to be a bit of singing here and there and a lot of money.

As for the glaring fact that Cowell will jump at the chance to crush the hopes of anyone not top-notch, i think that, singing talent aside, it would provide a huge source of emotional scarring for the child. Even with a supportive family at hand, the sheer humiliation spanning from an incident such as that would be something that would stay with them forever. It's silly putting such a thing at stake just to cash in on 2 years of "talent".

Nathan Hannah, Blah,

lets face it the only true winner of all this is simon cowell.like evryone else they will be chewed up and spat out again after they've had their no 1 single, why do people never learn??

joanna, nottingham,

I think everyone is going completely over the top. If you don't want your child entering, fair enough, but for families who are going to be supportive of their child's talets and dreams, then there is not a problem - so long as support is given throughout. As said, X-Factor never creates any lasting fame, so it is not as if the child is going to miss out on all their childhoor. Give it a year and it will all be over for them - if not less. And hey, if they do stick around, who has the right to try to stop that persons dreams when they clearly had the talent. 14 year olds can be mature and know exactly what their goal is and what they had to do to achieve their goal, and if they are not mature enough, then they will not get far enough into the competition for it to make a difference anyway. I just think some of these comments are rediculous - a TV show of that popularity isn't going to treat the child badly are they, especially after all this media attention, they have too much to lose.

Fran, Norwich,

This is an absolute disgrace. Cashing in on innocent children is sick. Hundreds of young teenagers hopes will be crushed, and in doing so causing long term damage. Why the hell are we allowing this to happen? I wouldn't subject my child to the humiliation, and explotation that is The X Factor. 14 is far to young to be entering this kind of competition. Even if the child is good, no way will they be able to compete with the fully developed voice of a 21 year old. It's just sick, it really is.

Bernadette, Templemore, Tipperary

RE: Lucy Fields.

Maybe you should finish your education and check your spelling and grammar, before you chase such a commercialised, unreachable dream, that does not even catapult the winner into superstardom. X Factor, although entertaining, is just an unrealistic image of the music industry.

By the way, it should be 'should've' , not 'should of' .. !

Jesus Singh, Birmingham,

I think it is a good idea like i can now enter and show off my talent and i think like me there are alot of people that can deal with pressure and so i don't think it applies to evry teen but yes there are still alot of people that can't deal with it so i can see why people are worried!!

Luke, Basingstoke, England

Totally ludicrous, another exploitative move from the pro-bullying channel ITV. The whole show does nothing but promote itself and set up quick turnover acts for BMG Records. Children should not be subjected to this kind of media exploitation and if a child is talented then they should be encouraged into the industry by the proper channels. X-factor is nothing more than a vehical for Simon
Cowell, who stepped in front of the camera when his own
acts starting waning. The man gave us Westlife and the Power Rangers for christs sake, has anyone ever checked his C.V.? At least have judges that have produced WORLD CLASS ACTS and leave the kids alone.

Andy Graham, London,

This is a great Idea, but when you actully try and enter it says you have to be 16 and over.... whats that about?? thanks

Chloe, Petersfield, England

i think its a great idea because us young teens can show our talent too!

lucy dawson, durham, england

i think that reducuing the age to 14 is fantastic, millioins of 14 year olds have been sat watching and waiting for their time because they know they can sing and its heart breaking when they know they cant but now they can fufill their dream and they know if there not good enough its a comment they will have to take because 16,17 etc.. year old feel ecactly the same and every one who dosnt get through deals with it. they should of thought of the age thing ages ago because im only 14 and im definatly goig to audition

lucy fields, plymouth, england

Cowell is just an arrogant nasty. Luckily the show continues on it's death march to insignificance.

Chris, London, UK

How do you sign up? lol! wb plz

Claudia, Carmarthen, Wales

Leave Simon Cowell alone. He is honest if harsh. If kids of 14 want to enter X-Faxtor then they know what they are letting themselves in for - they have probably watched it for years. If other people have told them they are good and they are not that's not Simon's fault.

Maggs, Hemel Hempstead, England