Champion of Champions series are a really awful idea, it works alright as an hour of idle fun for Strictly on Christmas Day but the second you stretch it out any longer, nobody's interested. I know the idea of the "journey" is a bit risible but it's clearly important in ensuring you give a toss about the contestants. Why should the viewers or the contestants be bothered?
World Idol was the perfect example - you had Will Young getting criticism from the judges, and he could have easily turned round (not that he did, he's too poilte) and said "that's all very well, but I've sold million of records". As Cowell himself mentioned when he said World Idol was a bad idea, they'd all won the thing and now they were making them look like losers. Who cares?
The bizarre thing about Battle of the Stars is that it followed straight on from Soapstar Superstar which was doing exactly the same thing and made X Factor look old hat, it was as if ITV had made a spoiler for its own programme. And given its swagger it had the most terrible line-up of Z-listers.
I wish Dermot O'Leary didn't do the X Factor, I don't think it does his career any good at all. I know it pays lots and it's exceptional exposure but it really doesn't square with his other role as a credible music DJ and broadcaster, and it's a pretty thankless task because it seems to involve a lot of fire-fighting.
X factor should have went the way of BGT, and stripped it over a course of a week for the live show, and started it 7.30 had corrie at 9 and results at, you get the picture. You could have this in November, and pack in a great week. Of course then means you need to have more saturday night stuff but surly there could find something for October and December?
I'm not sure ITV would be willing to bet the farm on an idea which revolves around the suggestion "surely they could find something".
