X Factor: 2011

BGT 'flagging badly' - it's not significantly down at all, headline numbers dipped following the good spell of weather but audience shares still 40%+

Cowell and Cole's departure from XF is the biggest risk, and with that announced you were always left with the blander side of the panel anyway. So there's now an opportunity to refresh the show.

Everybody is writing off this Tulisa girl, and didn't that happen with Cole ?

Ok, blame it on the weather then....

So no Simon, Cheryl or Dannii for the next series. All we're left with is Louis Walsh.

Jesus.

I think you're right. American Idol is still doing well and is a huge brand. The two series won't clash but will the slight differences in format be enough to draw an audience into what many will see as a copycat series?

The choice of unknown foreign stars like Cheryl Cole and Steve Jones won't help either

I'm expecting a return to a 3-chair panel, personally. I know the US X Factor will have four judges, but I think it's going to be tricky to replace three judges at once. I think Sharon Osbourne will be back - works well with Louis, adds a level of consistency.

Ironically, though, I think Cowell really needs to look at how American Idol has relaunched since his departure - hire two decent, high-profile singers.

I do think though TXF has become too reliant on singers as judges - after all originally the judging panel was a line up of music managers.

I bet too TXF Australia now are wishing they hadn't rushed to complete their line up now Dannii is available.

He was asked but he was a bit busy with it being Easter

I think the panel should return to 3 Judges, but am unsure if they will do. As they have now split it into 4 sections ect and has worked well.

Also, will the show be as popular now Simon, Cheryl and Dannii are gone?

3 judges for the auditions with Simon or guest judges returning for 'judges houses' onwards.

Not surprised at Dannii leaving, and they might as well go the whole hog and ditch Louis too. As I put a few pages back, they should put Louis on BGT and should have sent Dannii to X Factor Australia as their show is flagging and Dannii is a big name there too. In turn that would put Mel B on our show which makes far more sense. It isn't too late to make that switch, I don't think X Factor Australia has started yet and Mel B would pull in the viewers over here, just as Dannii would over there.

I'd be very surprised if Dannii just quit due to filming clashes, it hasn't been an issue before. The official line could be that with 2 new judges it would lead to inconsistency in the auditions, however theres an argument that with Dannii out of the way, the focus could be on the new judges. She was either pushed or there is truth in the rumours of Sharon Osbourne returning which, if true, would be a genius move as Louis & Sharon are the next best thing to Cheryl & Simon. Dannii & Louis aren't really a strong enough pairing to carry the show forward. On a side note, I'd love to see a Simon, Cheryl, Sharon & Louis panel.

Dannii has had a rough ride on X Factor but at least shes left on a high. She was last years winning mentor and her popularity hit all time high after a bad start with Sharon during her first year and being in Cheryl's shadow and crying live on air during her second year. The programme has to sign up an impressive panel to be able to survive this year.

You have to remember Dannii has a young son now, so probably doesn't want to rush about from one show in the UK to another in Oz.
Mel B would be a big no-no. Can't stand the woman, and I don't see her drawing in the viewers.
As some have suggested, three judges would be OK in the auditions, then either Simon or guest judges from Judges' Houses onwards. Louis needs to stay. If he didn't, it would be like the Sugababes all over again. (Yes, I really did compare LouLou to a Sugababe).

Mel B is a tabloid favourite, she'll generate publicity for the programme in the way that Cheryl did. Getting someone with that pull is very important, but they need someone to have the effect that Cheryl did in 2008, Nicole had last year and Jennifer Lopez had on American Idol. Thats a really difficult challenge for them and one they need to do very soon.

Louis staying is just pointless if they don't get the right people for him to bounce off, otherwise he'll just look even more irrelevant than he already does. Also, he's been there 8 years and being the joke of the panel and the one one of 6 judges to have been there from the start, he'll just end up looking like he has no other prospects which undermines the credibility they try and pretend the judges have.