The X-Factor has been lighting up our screens for nearly ten years. It has given us Leona Lewis, Little Mix, Cher Lloyd, Olly Murs and of course, One Direction, all of whom have had number one hit singles and have sold millions of albums around the world. And although ITV announced in 2013 a deal that will keep X-Factor on television until 2016, there has been a lot of speculation around the series and its survival.
So what does all of this X-Factor gossip mean for the show? Let’s take a look and see if we can figure it out.
At the beginning of the month, Simon Cowell announced he was leaving the US and returning to the UK X Factor as a judge. At the time, he seemed to suggest that he wanted to return to the UK show because it was better at finding international superstars. He said at the time, “The UK X Factor has set the benchmark in finding worldwide superstars over the years – including One Direction, Leona Lewis, Cher Lloyd, Olly Murs , JLS and Little Mix.” Shortly, we discovered that the American version, which Cowell had worked on for three years, was being cancelled by its network, Fox.
Cowell had decided to move back to the UK for “a number of reasons”, he said in a statement, and Fox replied with their own statement: “Unfortunately, there is no X Factor USA without Simon Cowell, but we understand and support his decision to focus on the international formats and on the next phase of his personal life. We wish him the very best, and it’s our sincere hope that we work together again soon.”
That quick dissolution of a pretty successful show got commentators over here thinking – if Cowell’s presence is so crucial to the X Factor brand, then what does it mean for the show over here? Was one of his number of reasons for returning an indication that all is not well for the UK X Factor?
Commentators pointed out that last year’s show, won by Sam Bailey, averaged just 9.6 million viewers per show, the second lowest audience numbers in the show’s history. One writer pointed out that the show just lacks direction and a certain X factor without Cowell. His hands-off approach when he was in The States just meant that the show lost its way, with judges looking bored, going insane or simply repeating themselves, comedy acts that failed to capture the nation’s heart, and an approach to the contestants’ stories that rely too heavily on sob stories and not enough on entertaining performances.
In the middle of the month, Cowell seemed to suggest that the X Factor-related reasons for returning were more about the US market than the relative success (or lack thereof) of the UK show. When auditioning contestants for BGT, he told reporters, “I don’t know why any show wants to compete in America right now. It’s too flooded, the market. There’s going to be… something like 14 talent shows on American TV [this year]. It’s becoming like a joke.” He then reiterated the success the show has had in finding world-class talent. “X Factor UK, I’ve always said it’s like my baby. I love doing the show… The main reason I came back is that final year produced 45m album sales. We had a phenomenally successful group of talented people. It tells me they’re [out] there, we’ve just got find them and make them successful.”
He also pointed out that he was in talks with Cheryl Cole about her possible return as a judge.
And just in time, too, as on Valentine’s Day, Cowell confirmed that Nicole Scherzinger would not be returning to the judge’s panel. Still, Cole made it clear she was undecided. Her last stint on the show left a bad taste in her mouth, so she is reportedly “torn” over whether or not she should return. On the one hand, she will have just finished recording her new album and the show would give her a chance to promote the new material, but on the other hand, she’s not sure she wants to deal with all the pressure, the source said.
All this speculation about the show’s future has got people focussing on more immediate matters: who will be joining Cowell on the judge’s panel? Well, Louis Walsh is a dead cert. Dannii Minogue squashed rumours that she would be coming back, and British bookies put the odds at 33/1 that Piers Morgan will join the show, following his own American show’s cancellation. Names like Rita Ora, Olly Murs and even Robbie Williams have been thrown around. Reports are rolling in that Cole will be confirmed later this week, but who can wait that long?
That brings us up to today. Cowell is in, Cole is undecided, and the rest of the panel has yet to be confirmed – or even speculated about. But with filming due to start in June, we’ll find out soon enough.
So what does all of this X Factor gossip mean? Well, it could be that Cowell’s baby has grown too large to control. Or it could be that Cowell is playing the papers for all the exposure and speculation he can get so his return is as triumphant as possible. And knowing Simon Cowell, we’re pretty sure we know which one it is.
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