'X Factor' series nine final to be held in Manchester
Published Aug 13 2012, 00:01 BST | By Amy Bell
The X Factor 2012 final will be held in Manchester, it has been confirmed.The talent contest is set to move from its traditional base in London for the climax of series nine, with judges Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger, Tulisa and Louis Walsh, host Dermot O'Leary and the chosen hopefuls to now head to Manchester Central.
© Twitter / The X Factor
Show sponsor TalkTalk has also announced that it will be giving customers 10,000 tickets to the live final weekend via its Facebook page.
Louis Walsh commented on the news: "Our live final is going to be another major event - so The X Factor 2012 has everything! I believe it's going to be our best series yet."
Commercial director of TalkTalk Tristia Clarke also said: "We can't wait to take the X Factor live finals to Manchester for the first time.
"This year we helped to create the mobile auditions, which recruited talent from all over the country, and we're delighted that 10,000 of our customers will have the chance to join us at the finals in Manchester."
The X Factor series nine begins on Saturday (August 18) at 8pm on ITV1.
Surely the MEN arena would have been a much much much better place for the final not Manchester Central which is an exhibition centre not an arena.
August 13th 2012 at 10:34pm
Manchester central is not the arena, it is what was known as the GMEX they have the conservative party conference there, it is much smaller the MCR Arena.
This is due to budget cuts.
August 13th 2012 at 7:29pm(+1 like)
Actually Manchester Central is the arena. It was renamed from GMEX a few years ago after the extension.
August 13th 2012 at 7:48pm
It's not. Manchester Central (formerly known as the GMEX) and Manchester Arena (the 20000 seater arena formerly known as the Manchester Evening News Arena or M.E.N. Arena for short until the sponsorship deal ended last year) are two completely separate buildings that are several minutes walk away from each other. Manchester Central is much smaller than Manchester Arena.
August 13th 2012 at 9:11pm(+2 likes)
The Conservative Party conference is far more exciting than the X Factor Final.
August 14th 2012 at 2:53am(+1 like)
"I believe it's going to be our best series yet." says Louis Walsh, before even one audition. Just shows that the actual singers and bands don't actually matter. Either that or Walsh is talking out of his backside yet again!
August 13th 2012 at 6:55pm
Erm, the audtions were back in May and June
August 13th 2012 at 7:02pm
Is this because of the move to Media City?
August 13th 2012 at 5:55pm
Doubt it has anything to do with that. The moves to Media City are mostly BBC based, although ITV are relocating Coronation Street to a new set there as well.
August 13th 2012 at 9:13pm
The BBC believe in Manchester in being a new media Hub as London is actually now short on space if you think about it. I wasn't saying it was down to "the vibe" why they have moved there. XF Producers just wanted to pick another venue and Manchester is a good hub.
August 14th 2012 at 10:18pm
I see no problem, even the BBC have moved up there, there's a vibe and culture that people latch onto about Manchester that is different to London. Whatever XF producers do will be wrong any way with the critics. I've discovered now a lot of people that have the knife out for it are very curious about what happens on each series.....really just makes me laugh.
August 13th 2012 at 5:18pm