Start of 'X Factor' U.K. Auditions Canceled After Death of Simon Cowell's Mother

1:32 AM PDT 7/6/2015 by Georg Szalai

DOWN: Simon Cowell

His "The X Factor" U.K. edition debuts down more than 2 million viewers with new judge Nicole Scherzinger. Does it portend a soft U.S. bow in September?

The auditions were set to begin in Manchester on Monday.

Monday's planned start of auditions for the new season of The X Factor U.K. on ITV has been canceled after the death of Simon Cowell's mother.

Julie Cowell died on Sunday. She was 89.

Auditions for the 12th season of the singing competition on ITV were scheduled to start in Manchester on Monday. "Auditions have been canceled for today due to the sad news," a spokesman for the show said.

Decisions for coming days weren't immediately made.

The judges for the U.K. show are Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw.

Twitter: @georgszalai