The Voice

I really think this show will become the downfall of X-Factor. Great lineup of coaches.

Wishful thinking.

If The X Factor were some regular talent contest, it would never have really got off the ground as it did. The people who say the dramas have made it unpopular really make me laugh. The Cheryl Cole effect and said dramas made it the number 1 show in the country. Because it just worked at that time. I'm not saying Cheryl Cole is a ratings puller alone (she clearly won't be anymore) but all the elements matched up around the time of her coming into XF. Then they took it up a notch in 2009 and really pulled it out of the bag. 2010 business as usual - biggest TV show in the UK. Sure, the talent needs to be there - it's crucial - but without the soapy elements X Factor would have been getting Fame Academy style recognition. The issues this year are a crap group of 'personalities' on the judging panel, the girl who was voted off by her mentor in the first week being the saving grace talent wise, and as a result a tired feeling programme. As Cheryl and Dannii proved, you don't need huge names to create a number 1 show in this field. Gary Barlow was arguably a bigger signing than those two, but he's boring yet cutting without any of the Simon Cowell charisma. People can say what they like, but the ratings speak for themselves - when the formula of drama with a sprinkling of true talent is executed perfectly, The X Factor pulls 15 mil on average and gets a 20 million viewer final.

What exactly is the format of The Voice? Lmao. X Factor without being able to see the contestants in the auditions? Wow, anything passes for a format these days.

I wouldn't underestimate Simon Cowell and his team just yet. If it were merely down to ITV, then yes X Factor would be screwed, but there are people involved who know how to make a better entertainment show than the BBC in general. To be fair, The Voice has poached two producers from The X Factor's production company, but I can't see how it will work out unless they try and copy The X Factor. And the BBC wouldn't want to be seen doing that now, right?

Someone from The Script? Seriously?!
Wonder how many people said "no" before they got to him...

So Carrie and David Grant turned them down?

The biggest complaint about The X Factor this year has been the new judges have taken it too seriously - after years of people moaning about them not taking it seriously enough. The BBC have given The Voice a fighting chance with a far better line up than I ever thought they'd have - but nothing is guaranteed. It could get 13m viewers - but could just as easily get 3m.

However "different" it may be it's still basically an X Factor spin-off - so people tiring of The X Factor may mean interest isn't there for The Voice either.

Well they certainly asked Will Young. Sounds like it didn't go well.

https://twitter.com/#!/will_young31/status/144771362752430080

To be fair The Script have also had success in America (some of their singles even did better over there) so it's good that all coaches have had international success not just in the UK.

I've just remembered Holly Willoughby use to work on Fame Academy!

The CBBC spin off. Xtra Factor lite

Before moving to Xtra Factor for 2 series (obviously doing MoM/Saturday Showdown) and dancing on ice before hand).

Also on this morning the other week they had Kerry Katona mentioning that all the judges have gone after Holly chose to leave, to which Holly quickly said that it wasn't her choice, but didn't say anything more on the matter.

And she did The Xtra Factor as well! She's done all the major singing shows!!

That was my point

That was more in jest than anything else. It wasn't the judges' choices either. The show has done a cull.