X Factor

I wonder who determined how many/few episodes the series would have? Sounds rather like damage limitation from ITV, especially after seeing how badly the celebrity series was going.

I am certain it was originally meant to be 7/8 eps. That might explain why they're putting on the decidedly unfestive, and judging by the trailer not great, 3 part drama Sticks and Stones the week after. It certainly has the feeling of a drama sat on the shelf for a bit.

Remember that Simon had planned to have the All Stars X Factor on now, but that was ditched at short notice, and so this is pure filler arrangement.

Good catch - Sticks and Stones was filmed September 2018 according to original reports, back when it was called The Man. Can't imagine it was being filmed for a Christmas 15 months in the future at the time.

That said, I don't think X-factor would have gone alternate nights over two weeks anyway, maybe a Saturday-Saturday stripped affair. Now it's just every other night I think.

Yes I think so too. I think they've brought the Royal Variety and I'm a Celeb Coming Out (though I'm aware that normally airs a few days after the final) forward by a week to plug the gaps.

Apologies if this has already been mentioned but was speculated he rushed this format to air because of this new Little Mix search for a band next year on BBC One. Whether true or not the whole rushed format of the X Factor the Band seems to just be a desperate throw everything at the wall and see what sticks idea from Simon Cowell, I was a massive fan of the X Factor around 10 years ago but I think it's time ITV done the decent thing and put it out of its misery.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/little-mix-the-search

It has been discussed here before, and it depends on what narrative you believe really. I suspect we'll never know, but the arguments are either Simon was willing to scrap a planned All Star series, purely to torpedo Little Mix (with the blessing of ITV in the run up to Christmas) or it was a last moment about turn to try and save fast declining ratings during the death rattle of a franchise where many of the former acts were apparently unwilling to sign up for a second go round.

I suspect that Simon et al were actually relieved that Little Mix announced their version as it gave them an excuse to perform some very last moment damage limitation and frame it as a reaction to the BBC's new show. I suspect the producers of the Little Mix show, will also be quite pleased as I'd be surprised if their show isn't improved by the mere comparison with what it looks like the X-Factor band series might turn out to be.

Well of course it was supposed to be All Stars where 4 episodes would have worked as we already know the story.

This new version is going to be a complete car crash, have they even filmed any of it yet?

It’s noticable how little ITV are promoting it, in terms of trailer time it seems to be about 6th behind lots of other stuff, it almost seems like a contractual obligation.

The first of the pre-recorded shows happened today. Looks like they have gone for a neon branded logo - think it looks quite good actually on the set.

[url] https://up.metropol247.co.uk/TellyGB/4ECC17A5-889C-49F2-A2E3-B604E1FCF589.jpeg[/url]

Take a deep breath. It's time to face @SimonCowell and @NicoleScherzy 🎤

The search in on... Tune in to #XFactorTheBand Monday 9th December on @ITV and @WeAreSTV pic.twitter.com/1a8xekWdiZ

— The X Factor (@TheXFactor) December 4, 2019

Is it all pre-recorded?

The final's live.