The X Factor set for bombshell TV return after seven years as ITV chiefs plot revamped format with younger judges

THE X Factor is poised for a sensational return to boost ITV’s viewing figures — and its bank balance. Executives are “super-keen” to bring back the world-beating talent show, which pulled in 19 million viewers at its height and turned One Direction, Little Mix and Leona Lewis into global stars. Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell are joined by Nicole Scherzinger and long-time host Dermot O’Leary in 2019 Credit: PA:Press Association Nicole was one of many big name judges during the talent show’s run Credit: PA:Press Association Production company Talkback Thames and ITV chiefs are in top-level talks on launching a revamped version of the contest. The plan is to have younger judges to appeal to the social media generation but show creator Simon Cowell, the former head judge, is likely to return in some capacity. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! It comes after recent ITV attempts at big-budget entertainment shows, including The Neighbourhood hosted by Graham Norton, and The Fortune Hotel, hosted by Stephen ­Mangan, flopped disastrously. Earlier this month ITV’s singing competition The Voice returned with just 1.9 million viewers and was beaten by little-known BBC1 game show Picture Slam. READ MORE ON THE X FACTOR The X Factor ran for 15 series from 2004 to 2018 before two spin-off series aired in 2019 — X Factor: Celebrity and X Factor: The Band. ITV’s Director of Entertainment, Reality & Daytime Katie Rawcliffe is said to want to sprinkle the nailed-on hit’s magic on the station’s ailing evening weekend offerings. A source said: “ITV have a giant gaping hole that needs filling in its entertainment schedule, particularly over weekends when bigger viewing figures are up for grabs. “Katie can’t afford another disaster after the car crash of The Neighbourhood, which was colossally expensive and failed terribly. Most read in TV The first judging panel in 2004 featuring media mogul Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh Credit: ITV Show creator Simon Cowell, the former head judge, is likely to return in some capacity Credit: Getty “Rather than creating more flop formats they have the opportunity to give The X Factor, a sure-fire hit, a modern makeover. “They can explore a younger, fresher panel, with new faces and have Cowell behind the scenes. The plan is for the show’s return to take on a new life and be updated to envelop social media generation. “ITV has shown with programmes like Love Island and I’m A Celebrity . . . that social media is where they can inject massive viewing figures. “The X Factor was one of the most iconic shows in TV history and created dozens of stars and household names who are still riding high today. “Executives at Talkback Thames have had discussions with ITV chiefs about a comeback and they are super-keen for it.” A return would also boost ITV plc’s revenues which have been hammered in recent years by weak advertising and overspending on its streaming services, say finance experts Hargreaves Lansdown. At its peak, The X Factor was one of UK TV’s most lucrative entertainment shows, generating an estimated £100million in 2009 alone. Individual 30-second commercial spots during the finale commanded huge premiums, bringing in from £150,000 to £300,000 per slot. In addition to standard ad breaks, the show was backed by lucrative multi-year corporate sponsorships, such as a three-year, £20million deal with TalkTalk struck in 2010. Judges were already, or became, household names, with Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh joining Cowell at the start in 2004. By 2019, with The X Factor: Celebrity, Nicole Scherzinger had joined Simon and Louis, with Dermot O’Leary the host. The rights to The X Factor are owned by 6-year-old Cowell and distribution company Fremantle, who run Talkback Thames. The Neighbourhood hosted by Graham Norton flopped disastrously Credit: PA The Fortune Hotel, hosted by Stephen Mangan, was also a flop Credit: PA He has signed up for a Sky documentary about the show, with production firm 72 Films, along with other former judges such as Cheryl Cole. It is due to air next year. An insider said: “The celebratory documentary is going to explore the cultural phenomenon that The X Factor was and is likely to remind fans about its success.” Asked in May if The X Factor could return, Cowell told the Tales from the Celebrity Trenches podcast: “Yeah, we talk about it a lot. Do you bring it back as X Factor or do you bring it back as the Z Factor? “There’s still no question, the power of TV in terms of getting people to know an artist. It’s so important if you’re not writing your own material. “The truth is there’s something about being on a big screen. You hear about these artists who break online, but so rarely. “Truth is, I guess, thank God, people like being on TV.” Speaking at the Edinburgh TV festival last week, Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director, Media and Entertainment said the channel needed to take “more risks”. He said: “Because we’re in a very good position with entertainment — with I’m A Celebrity . . . and Britain’s Got Talent and The Masked Singer and so on — we must take risks with new shows. “And, honestly, if one in eight becomes the next Britain’s Got Talent, that’s a win. “So you’ve got to expect that they won’t all work, and it’s harder and harder now to bring people to new shows. That’s why you’re seeing more and more reboots everywhere. “We’re continuing to try new shows and so long as they’re good in themselves, I don’t mind the odd failure. “Otherwise you’re just going to shrink and shrink and do more episodes of The Chase.” ITV and Fremantle declined to comment FIVE OF THE GREATEST ACTS ONE DIRECTION One Direction from left to right: Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan Credit: PA The group — Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson — finished third in 2010. They then had numerous hits around the world. LEONA LEWIS Bleeding Love singer Leona Lewis won The X Factor in 2006 Credit: Dan Charity She won the show in 2006 and a year later had a No1 single on both sides of the Atlantic with Bleeding Love. The London-born star, now 41, has sold 35 million records. JAMES ARTHUR James Arthur performs during The X Factor auditions in 2012 Credit: ITV The singer-songwriter from Middlesbrough, now 38, was the winner in 2012. His continued success includes his album Pisces hitting the top three last year. LITTLE MIX Little Mix, who won the show in 2011, from left to right: Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards Credit: PA:Press Association In 2011 the quartet of Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock were the first group to win the show. Their No1s include Wings. OLLY MURS Olly Murs performs on The X Factor in 2009 Credit: Ken McKay He was runner-up in 2009 and went on to have hits across the world. Olly, now 42, also co-presented the show in 2015, and became a judge on The Voice. Comment now