The star who heralds from Kosovo has asked bosses if she can take her acts to former royal residence of King Zog I, says source

Kosovan Queen: Rita wants to go back to her roots

If I told you this year’s X Factor hopefuls will sing for their lives in an exiled dictator’s palace, you’d think Simon Cowell was up to his old tricks.
But it’s Rita Ora who wants to stamp her authority on the contest by holding her judges’ houses session in an Albanian mansion – once home to King Zog I, who was overthrown in 1939.
The star, who was born in Kosovo, has asked bosses if she can take her acts to the former royal residence and already has a nod from Albanian ­officials
.
Rita’s keen to show some eastern European culture and authorities in Albania want to capitalise on her fame in the UK.

Royalty: King Zog I

A close friend said: “Rita is very proud of her Kosovan-Albanian heritage and has done work with both countries.
“Rita was only recently honoured as an ambassador of Kosovo and is attached to the area.
“At the moment no decisions have been made and Simon Cowell is yet to be convinced – but it’s something Rita has suggested.”
In a twist, bosses will broadcast the judges’ houses phase live, with each beaming their acts’ ­performances by satellite to the London studio.

Palatial: Rita wants to give acts red carpet treatment

But show sources say the move has added fresh complications to producers’ plans because they need to find locations ­suitable for live broadcast and can’t be battling with different time zones around the world.
A show insider said: “No ­decisions have been made over judges’ houses locations yet.
“They will be broadcast live so there are lots of technical and ­logistical factors to consider.”