The X Factor 2018

*Groan* here we go again. Another brand new era for the show etc. etc.

Louis has quit. Sharon will only appear in the live shows, and 3 new panel members required. Audition rooms scrapped once again, all auditions in front of an audience at Wembley Arena. Anyone still watching?

https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/new-era-revealed-x-factor

The X Factor is going full Simpsons on us - Cowell will milk every penny out of this as long as ITV is prepared to let him, and ITV don't have an alternative shiny floor show ready to roll so will just let him continue.

I was going to say that we need this generation's Chris Evans to come up with a new vision, but Chris and co specialised in Channel 4 shows. We do seem to have lost the knack of creating new formats which work on a Saturday night for a mainstream audience in this country.

Could Pop Idol work for a new run?

Simon doesn't own the Pop Idol format, and that is what ITV wants, a Simon Cowell owned show. X Factor has been dead for the last four years at least, with Strictly thrashing them in the overnight ratings last year, usually with a 4 million viewer lead. They always put it down to an older audience who watch Strictly live, but that can not be the full reason why Strictly whips their ass each week.

Time for X Factor to be rested, like Saturday Night Takeaway was, and start to think of a new autumn show for 2019.

The one constant during the show’s biggest rated years was Dannii Minogue. Not saying she was the reason, but she was certainly a refreshing alternative to the rest of Cowell’s cronies. Nick Grimshaw and Kelly Rowland both had the same kind of vibe. Cowell needs to realise that being one of his mates, aka Cheryl, Louis, Sharon, does not make you a good judge - but just watch as Louis Tomlinson inevitably gets announced as one of the replacements.

Bring back Fame Academy I say!!! Move it to ITV and have it in it's original format, with a live stream of all the classes at the school and all that!!! I still remember watching a live stream when Mariah Carey went to the school in full diva mode: students were terrified, she had dark sunglasses on inside (even though it was already night outside) and an assistant in constant view holding a cup with a straw whenever she wanted a drink. I loved her even more after that. Ahhh, those were the days

Louis Tomlinson will be used to attract the former One Direction fan base to the show. Problem is the One Direction fan base is gone since they split up a few years ago (sorry, on a break) - thus, there isn't many fans to attract, only those who like Louis. This leaves a lot who don't. It will attract some viewers, a blip, and then plummet as always when Strictly kicks off on the first Saturday in September.

Agreed 100%. Simon, Cheryl, Dannii and Louis were the best combination. Nans liked Louis, middle aged women liked Simon, Young females and gays liked Cheryl and middle aged gays liked Dannii. The whole of its core market covered.

I still watch but it had run its course around 5 years ago. These formats are tired and boring now. I do prefer it to The Voice. I couldn't get into that at all this year and gave up after 2 episodes. The Voice and X Factor are basically the same type of show with only a slightly different format, the end result is the same. People are bored of them and why ITV have both is beyond me.

Danni certainly bought more to the show than Cheryl during her time.

Don't see the point in retaining Sharon if there will be three other judges. I honestly think Simon needs to recognise he is actually part of the problem now - The panel is much freer to create a decent show without the boss on the panel. If they're having a fifth neutral judge make it him.

The show is just going around in circles and getting dwindling returns. What they should do really is build on last year which although had it's problems had something's going for it. 12 shows over 6 weeks could work well, but bring back deadlock rather than the prize fight and merge the contestants together earlier to create a final 10 rather than final 6.

I'd also scrap boot camp and judges houses to streamline auditions. Just have the judges pick a top 10 per category BGT style then do the Four-Chair Challenge for a place in the live shows, ideally from the main set and packaged as if it was a live show rather than audition episode.

4 weekends of auditions, 2 of the Four Chair Challenge then 6 weeks of live shows streamlines things nicely. 24 episodes and around 40 hours of content, about the same as the classic structure but over 5 fewer weeks.

I liked Danni a lot and would welcome her return to the show, guess I fit into the middle aged gay category now

I agree I don't see the point in Sharon being an extra judge for the live shows, unless they plan on having one impartial judge for the vote off (if that comes back again). It would also avoid having to go to deadlock if there were 5 votes.

I actually thought last year the show improved slightly, only very slightly though, compared to the previous few years. However it seems like they keep taking a step back with this show.

If anything going back to 3 judges would be best. American Idol has had a fairly successful return by just going back to basics and making everything a bit smaller. These shows kind of get too big for their own good.