Simon says: we haven't fixed BGT

Judges on Britain's Got Talent today "laughed off" claims that Simon Cowell has fixed the show in favour of Ronan Parke.

The music mogul has called in police over damaging internet claims that he groomed the 12-year-old boy to triumph in tomorrow's final. Judges David Hasselhoff, Michael McIntyre, Amanda Holden and Louis Walsh have brushed off the claim.

In unsubstantiated allegations, an internet blogger alleged Cowell's company, Syco, misled millions of viewers by secretly talent-spotting the singer two years ago and fixing the current series for him to win.

Speaking to ITV News, Ronan Parke said it was all "silly".

He said: "I have not been coached by anyone to do with Simon. I have never met Simon in my life. I'd love to, but I never have.

"I have been coached by a singing teacher in Norwich that we pay for.

"No one's paid for our clothes or anything. It's really silly."

Walsh today dismissed the claims. He said: "I was a judge on the show when I picked him and I can say the allegations are totally untrue. I don't know where they have come from. I never saw the kid before, I just picked the kid because he was the best on the day and I thought 'everyone will like him and he could win'.

"All these allegations are totally untrue. I'm telling you 100 per cent. Someone is trying to stop this kid from winning this show. I've worked with Simon for eight years and he is totally by the book. He would never even try anything like this."

Cowell has fiercely denied the claims, made in a 2,500-word dossier and purportedly posted online by a nameless "Sony music executive". Last night, a Cowell aide visited Notting Hill police station to request an investigation into "malicious communications".

Cowell's PR adviser, Max Clifford, said: "I spoke to Simon last night and he had called the judges who laughed off these claims. It is ridiculous to suggest a respected comedian like Michael McIntyre would conspire to do something like this. And do you think Simon could tell David Hasselhoff who to vote for? It's absurd."

Mr Clifford also revealed Cowell fears the claims will stop viewers voting for Ronan - the bookies' favourite - in tonight's final. He said: "That's terrible for the young boy, who had set his heart on it. The final should be a level playing field. If Simon liked him so much he would have simply signed him up and not put him through Britain's Got Talent."

The blog claimed Syco scouts spotted Ronan in 2009 singing at a birthday party for former Norwich City goalie Bryan Gunn, a family friend. But Ronan's mother Maggie, 52, dismissed the claims. She said: "It's laughable and couldn't be further from the truth."