ITV 'preparing for X Factor axe': 'We've become too reliant'
Published Jun 29 2012, 16:05 BST | By Daniel Sperling
ITV are reportedly preparing to retire The X Factor UK in favour of another "big event show".Bosses at the channel are apparently concerned that they have "become too reliant" on the Simon Cowell contest, which took a tumble in the ratings for its eighth series last year.
© Twitter / The X Factor
"Every television network is always looking for the next big thing. They'd be crazy not to," an alleged senior source told the Daily Star. "X Factor has had a brilliant run, but no show lasts for ever.
"Over the past few years Simon Cowell has been the main source for many of our top hits but some feel that we've got too many eggs in one basket and we've become too reliant on one man."
However, ITV entertainment boss Elaine Bedell - who admitted recently to being "hungry for a big primetime weekend event show" - has said that commissioners have yet to find a format they feel confident about.
"The ideas need to have the production values of The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity and they need a major piece of talent," she explained.
"We get very few pitches for big event shows. They're risky to commission."
Auditions for series nine of The X Factor UK are currently taking place around the country.
Photo gallery - The X Factor UK 2012, Liverpool auditions:
Copyright: McPix Ltd
Thousands of fans queue up outside the X Factor auditions in Liverpool
The BEEB outbid ITV to The Voice. and anyway it is a dutch tv company that makes it and not the BEEB.
July 7th 2012 at 10:56am
good!
July 7th 2012 at 1:37am
If this is about loosing ratings to the awful program the Voice, then don't forget the Voice also lost viewers because after the initial excitement it became Boring, leave the X Factor alone, the crowds are still turning out and that's what matters.
July 5th 2012 at 5:28pm
They could be really radical and actually put through really great singers instead of joke acts and people of questionable mental health. Oh, and don't make them be jacks-of-all-trades with the awful "theme weeks", and try letting the judges be nice instead of scripting nonsensical and bitchy comments for them to trot out. That might help.
July 3rd 2012 at 1:27pm
they should have bought the voice as itv would have done it so much more justice
July 2nd 2012 at 9:30pm