The X Factor is officially making its return to the UK. Simon Cowell’s hit singing competition is coming back to television after a seven-year absence from ITV. The show has helped produce some of the biggest names in music, from One Direction and Little Mix to Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke.
Insiders claim The X Factor is plotting a comeback after seven years off the air
The X Factor wrapped its 15-season run in 2018 after debuting in 2004. The show proved highly profitable, reportedly generating about £100 million ($135 million) in revenue in 2009. The franchise later launched X Factor: Celebrity and X Factor: The Band in 2019. The first judging panel featured the media mogul alongside Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. They were joined by Dannii Minogue, Cheryl, Nicole Scherzinger, Louis Tomlinson, and others across various seasons.
Executives are “super-keen” to bring back the world-beating talent show, which pulled in 19 million viewers at its height. ITV chiefs and Talkback Thames are holding top-level discussions about reviving the contest with a revamped format. The revamped show could feature a younger judging panel aimed at attracting social media audiences. Meanwhile, Cowell could return to the show in some capacity, reports The Sun.
A source told the outlet, “ITV has a giant gaping hole that needs filling in its entertainment schedule, particularly over weekends when bigger viewing figures are up for grabs. They can’t afford another disaster after the car crash of The Neighbourhood, which was colossally expensive and failed terribly.”
“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,” the source explained.
