After 15 years on air, The X Factor is being given the chop by its creator Simon Cowell — according to new reports.
Details below…
Sources close to the situation say that dwindling ratings and audience fatigue have seen Cowell scrap the format of the upcoming season. A move that means producers quite literally have halted the search for new talent; a search that was said to be proving difficult.
Instead, the 2019 incarnation of the show will reportedly be billed as a “celebrity version” with a goal to “rejuvenate” the format.
Per insiders, soap and reality stars with an unexplored penchant for singing are currently being courted.
There’ll also be a “champions” component that’ll see past X Factor contestants from international editions of the show compete. A concept Cowell has been exploring of late with his ‘…Got Talent’ franchise.
At its peak, The X Factor birthed stars such as Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, JLS, and Little Mix. It also spurned localised versions such as ‘The X Factor USA’ – which boasted judges like Britney Spears and Kelly Rowland.
In recent years though, viewers have become less enamoured with the soapy theatrics and it’s reflected in the so-so success of winners and contestants.
Will the new format be the spark needed?
Cowell will no doubt be hoping so. For, he’s said to be mulling a return to the traditional version in 2020 — which is the final year of the show’s current ITV deal.
Suffice to say, the performance of the upcoming instalment may dictate whether next year is the beginning of a refresh or the last hurrah.
In any case, what are…
Please bring it back to how it was with Simon,
Cheryl Cole and Mel B. The UK was so much fun. Do It ‼️‼️
Please bring the show back in some way or another!!! Must have Simon, Robbie and Ayda! The show wouldn’t be the same without those three. Maybe if it was televised in the U.S. it would work better. I watch it because I love Simon, Robbie and Ayda. The talent is good, but hard to understand all the thick accents of the contestants. Simon and Robbie Williams have accents, but they have been in the U.S. long enough so they can be understood. By the way, numerous friends of mine agree with me on my comments. They love the judges on The X-factor, but would rather watch American Idol contestants with X-factor judges. American Idol judges SUCK!!!!!! Contestants ROCK!!!!