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EX-FACTOR
Simon Cowell pulls plug on X Factor filming for this year and plans celeb version as part of huge overhaul of the show
SIMON Cowell has pulled the plug on filming X Factor this year as part of a huge overhaul.
It could see the end of auditions and the introduction of a celebrity or all-star version starring former favourites.
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The show is still expected to feature judges but it remains unclear whether last year’s line-up of Robbie Williams and wife Ayda Field and Louis Tomlinson will return.
The shake-up, which means this year’s auditions are axed for sure, follows flagging ratings.
A TV insider said: “Simon wants to stop the bleed before it’s too late and is happy to take drastic action.
“He knows everything has a life-span in showbiz so the only way to stop that is to give the viewers something new and very different.
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“There will definitely be a show this year. X Factor dominates is ITV’s biggest show for advertising revenue and dominates their weekend schedules for half the year, so nobody wants to lose it.
“But Simon hopes it will be almost unrecognisable by the time it returns.”
His team were set to begin work this week — but staff were stunned when their contracts were cancelled and shooting halted.
Cowell’s firm SyCo’s contract runs to the end of this year. But the 59-year-old is confident a new deal will keep a version on air for at least three more years.
Olly Murs says he's got 'nothing but love' for Simon Cowell as he explains turning down X Factor judge role
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He told The Sun in November: “We could probably do three or five years. It makes a lot of money.
“We got to a point years ago where we were able to compete with Strictly because there was that huge audience.
“We’re losing people now but, fortunately, this year the young audience has grown and advertisers and sponsors want that income.”
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The 15-year-old show has produced a string of internationally successful acts, including One Direction, Olly Murs and Little Mix.
Some 17.7million people saw Matt Cardle’s victory in the 2010 final but last year just 7.5million watched Dalton Harris win the title.
End of an era
THE X Factor is one of TV’s biggest successes of the last 20 years – but nothing lasts for ever and something had to give, writes Simon Boyle.
Without an overhaul, the amazing legacy risked being forgotten as the show disappeared into irrelevance.
Fortunately despite the decline Simon Cowell remains one of the shrewdest minds in the TV game, and while others may bury their heads he’s not that sort of guy.
When I last met with him shortly before Christmas he made it totally clear he has no plans to scrap one of the biggest brands in British TV – and I know he feels as passionate today about its success as he always has.
He’s not too proud to listen to criticism and feedback and change things up – he’s pushing this through even if that’s a major risk and some of those at ITV are nervous about it.
It’s bold - but it’s a risk well worth taking before it’s too late.
Jonjo Kerr performs You Really Got Me at The X Factor 2011 live shows
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