X Factor to return?

[JAS84]

OTVX? You mean ITV Hub's upcoming replacement ITVX, right?

[telebox2001]

Although part of me thinks it's had its day British television is crying out for something to knock Strictly off a perch that it, frankly, doesn't deserve to sit on.

The only way this is going to work is by playing a straight bat. The public will see right through the gimmicks and BS that blighted the later years of the original series.

The show jumped the shark when Lucie Jones and Jedward were in a singoff in 2009 - after weeks of slating Jedward, Cowell then incredibly saved them in order to 0 a deadlock, knowing full well that Lucie had come bottom in the televote.

I wonder if they'll do a separate Sunday night results show. I don't think it would be a bad idea if they ran the voting more like the semi finals of Eurovision - guest artist bookended by two recaps, close the lines, another guest artist performs whilst everything's verified and just lose whoever's come last in the televote. If they can sort the pacing out it might stand a chance.

[all new Phil]

Although part of me thinks it's had its day British television is crying out for something to knock Strictly off a perch that it, frankly, doesn't deserve to sit on.

The only way this is going to work is by playing a straight bat.  The public will see right through the gimmicks and BS that blighted the later years of the original series. 

The show jumped the shark when Lucie Jones and Jedward were in a singoff in 2009 - after weeks of slating Jedward, Cowell then incredibly saved them in order to 0 a deadlock, knowing full well that Lucie had come bottom in the televote.

I wonder if they'll do a separate Sunday night results show.  I don't think it would be a bad idea if they ran the voting more like the semi finals of Eurovision - guest artist bookended by two recaps, close the lines, another guest artist performs whilst everything's verified and just lose whoever's come last in the televote.  If they can sort the pacing out it might stand a chance.

100% the part in bold. Whilst I do think the show needs to manufacture a bit of drama (otherwise it becomes a The Voice-style dirge-fest), I hope they allow the talent to come organically rather than crowbarring in existing professionals they want to push. Minimal producer interference is what they need. And chaotic sing-offs. God I miss those.

[telebox2001]

The real issue though is these sort of shows don't produce stars anymore. It's not seen as a path to a career. If you want to get famous, TikTok has just completely taken over - we've seen that Sea Shanty, or more recently Sam Ryder, come through that route for example.

[Ericak]

Their source is The Daily Star lads....

I think there is zero chance of it coming back so soon. It isn't just the X factor Brand that's damaged, Cowell looks like yesterday's man.

The fatigue with these shows hasn't peaked yet. BGT will be lucky to get extended  past its contract if it doesn't arrest it's own decline.

[aaron_scotland]

The real issue though is these sort of shows don't produce stars anymore.  It's not seen as a path to a career.  If you want to get famous, TikTok has just completely taken over - we've seen that Sea Shanty,  or more recently Sam Ryder, come through that route for example.

Your spot on, and I bet you if the X Factor did come back you'd actually have producers trying to get people they find on TikTok to come on the show.

[telebox2001]

Even Stevie Wonder can see that happening.

I wonder if a January-March schedule might work better. Although you haven't got all the "tearjerker film to force you to by stuff" adverts you do in the Christmas run-up, moving transmission to avoid Strictly may be the answer, at least to begin with. The period of the year between post-Christmas and the clocks going forward is such a miserable time and a big television event on dark winter nights may be a major draw.

I'd actually be very tempted to copy Melodifestivalen and reformat the live shows into an arena tour. The speculation over suitable venues for next year's Eurovision has revealed we've got lot of mid-sized venues that could pull it off.

[natashajacobs]

An arena tour would be great but surely really expensive and logistically challenging?

[Newshound47]

I think it would be a fair bit harder than it was twenty years ago to appeal to both the chart listening generations and their parents and grandparents. There is a even generational larger divide in music now than they was then.  The masked singer has done managed through to an extent to target different musical generations but the actual target audience of that seems to be about 35-40 going by who are unmasked. The X factor was massive among kids and teens during its peak. I can’t see that happening again.

[telebox2001]

Their source is The Daily Star lads....

I think there is zero chance of it coming back so soon. It isn't just the X factor Brand that's damaged, Cowell looks like yesterday's man.

The fatigue with these shows hasn't peaked yet. BGT will be lucky to get extended  past its contract if it doesn't arrest it's own decline.

Aren't the Sun and Star normally quite bang on with these sort of stories though?

[Brekkie]

Their source is The Daily Star lads....

I think there is zero chance of it coming back so soon. It isn't just the X factor Brand that's damaged, Cowell looks like yesterday's man.

The fatigue with these shows hasn't peaked yet. BGT will be lucky to get extended  past its contract if it doesn't arrest it's own decline.

Whilst the Star article is terribly written there is enough evidence around to suggest some truth in it - noteably ITV not finding anything else that sticks, exploring a Pop Idol revival and The Voice being on it's way out.  It would be amiss of Cowell not to put his hand up and look at getting his format through the door.

Agree though Cowell is yesterdays man and personally I'd rather see a revival without him on screen - but doubt it would happen, or if it did he'd be bought in sooner rather than later if ratings weren't that great as the "saviour" of the show.

[JasonB]

So ITV are just scraping the barrel now for show ideas aren't they?

[telebox2001]

The Sun are now running with it and for all their ills are normally very hot with TV stories and Cowell productions in particular.

[Brekkie]

So ITV are just scraping the barrel now for show ideas aren't they?

Would you prefer more Romeo & Duet?

I think it would be unfair to say ITV don't try new entertainment content - feels like they've put alot more new shows out than the BBC on Saturday nights in recent years.   If viewers don't respond to it in the sort of numbers who watched The X Factor even in it's dying days then of course they're going to revisit the show which actually did so well for them for so long.

[Loydy]

I think part of what made X Factor work in its early days was the joke contestants that we saw less of in the future. I think nowadays it'd be difficult to have these sorts of acts due to them being ridiculed and the toll on mental health. Obviously it was different times back then but they were also usually the moments that everyone would talk about.