X Factor 2016

Usually they're 30th April but then they could be thinking most would have their applications in as there would be no promo for the deadline.

Unless they want a specific person to be in with a chance, but that's too cynical!

They've advertised post-BGT before for auditionees so the date isn't that new, and they do seem to have filmed slightly later than previously in later years. Simon now has to work around America's Got Talent in the summer too.

Australian X Factor 2016 is beating the UK version hands down. No stupid Honey G character, just great singers. Why it isn't shown over here I don't know??

It's flopping big style though and unlikely to be renewed.

The joke and drama act is as much a part of X Factor as the fake acting is on WWE it's a part of the product and always has been.

The acting in WWE is self contained. The rubbish TXF churns out negatively affects proper musicians whose talent is overlooked in favour of money-making cack.

No musician has ever financially suffered due to the likes of Honey G, Wagner and Jedward.

It really doesn't. Joke acts never get in over people who would have a realistic chance of winning and indeed a joke act will never win.

App crashed this evening for the life line vote. People on twitter have been getting angry.

Quite rightly so as well- Nothing has been acknowledged about it.

Although to be fair, I'm not sure there would have been a different outcome. Sam has a very similar fan base to Ryan who has survived every life line so far.

I watched a complete episode of The X Factor for the first time in years on Saturday night, and was struck by how ham-fisted the product placement has become - "Look at my Fitbit measured pulse rate on my Lenovo laptop as last week's results came in!" being a particular lowlight. Seems to me that it really cheapens the X Factor brand (but for all I know, could've been going on for ages).