Auditions for the next series of the X Factor are set be held in Croydon.

Simon Cowell is understood to be giving serious thought to bringing the talent show's 2015 series to the borough after being impressed by the rapturous reception for Ben Haenow's town-centre performance on Tuesday night.

Fairfield Halls has been suggested as a potential venue. 

Croydon Council leader Tony Newman, who spoke to Cowell after Haenow wowed more than 3,000 fans outside the Whitgift Centre, said the music mogul had been blown away by the turnout. 

He said: "There are serious discussions underway about the possibility of X Factor doing some auditions in Croydon. It came from Simon.

"He was very, very impressed with how many people came out on a cold, wet night and it ran very smoothly indeed.

"They were that impressed with the way that Croydon collectively ran the show and the response and reception from the crowd."

A spokesman for Thames TV, which produces the X Factor, said no decisions had been made on the location of next year's auditions.

Open auditions for this year's series were held at venues in nine cities across the UK and Ireland, while smaller scale mobile auditions also toured the country.

It is not clear which stage Cowell wants to Croydon to feature in, but Coun Newman, who described Cowell as "warm and friendly", said he would push for the borough to play as prominent a role as possible.

But the council leader, who once supported the Smiths as a member of cult new-wave band Shark Taboo, ruled himself out of an appearance should the talent show come to Croydon.

He said: "I can play a bit of guitar and piano but the voice has never been a strong point, so probably not."

Haenow will battle Andrea Faustini and Fleur East for the X Factor crown in this weekend's final. 

He described his homecoming show on Tuesday, when he performed the Beatles' Come Together and John Lennon's Jealous Guy, as "the best day ever".