PUBLISHED:<\/strong><\/p>\n03:42 EST, 10 December 2012<\/p>\n
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\nUPDATED:<\/strong><\/p>\n07:06 EST, 10 December 2012<\/p>\n
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X Factor bosses are ‘tearing up the format’ of ITV’s flagship show after a string of disastrous viewing figures, with Sunday’s final drawing its worst audience for seven years.
<\/span><\/p>\nAccording to reports, ITV bosses are set to hold emergency talks with Simon Cowell in anticipation of a complete overhaul of the show’s format and judging panel.
<\/span><\/p>\nDespite putting more money into the show’s budget, ratings have halved in two years, and now show chiefs are said to be planning a ‘back to basics’ approach.
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Revamp: It’s been reported that the ITV1 is set to go back to basic for the 10th series<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The X Factor’s ratings slide continued with Sunday’s final pulling in 2 million fewer viewers than last year.
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Crisis: Simon Cowell is set to sit down and talk through what’s next for The X Factor with ITV in the new year following poor ratings<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Figures from ITV show that Sunday
\nnight’s two-hour programme, which was won by James Arthur, had an
\naverage audience of 11.1 million compared with the 13.1 million who
\nwatched Little Mix win in 2011.
<\/span><\/p>\nAnd on Saturday the first part of the
\nX Factor final – eventually won by James Arthur, 24, had its worst
\naudience for seven years as it failed to beat rival Strictly Come
\nDancing again.<\/span><\/p>\nX
\nFactor attracted an average audience of 9.5 million for the first stage
\nof the final – the lowest audience since 2005 when 9.2 million watched
\nShayne Ward win the show.<\/span><\/p>\nThe
\nITV1 show trailed its BBC1 rival by 1.3 million viewers and it is
\nespecially embarrassing for The X Factor chiefs because Strictly is
\nstill two weeks away from hosting its own final.<\/span><\/p>\nNow bosses are said to be planning to axe the arena auditions in favour of a more low-key approach.<\/span><\/p>\nThe new format will include shifting
\nthe start of next year’s show to the weekend after children return to
\nschool in order to make it more popular with a younger audience.<\/span><\/p>\nAccording to The Sun newspaper,
\nSaturday’s shows are set to start earlier to avoid the dip in ratings
\nafter 10pm.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
On the chopping board: According to a source Gary Barlow and Tulisa Contostavlos could be removed from the judging panel as Cowell plans to rejig things <\/p>\n
A production source said: ‘It doesn\u2019t take a genius to work out that the show is not in the best health. <\/span><\/p>\n‘We have had some very strong singers this year but the show is feeling in need of a reboot.’<\/span><\/p>\nWhile another insider claims that Cowell could return to the show as a judge solely during the live shows..<\/span><\/p>\nJudges Gary Barlow and Tulisa Contostavlos are said to be favourites to face the chop in a cull of the judging panel. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Not winning: This year the final had its worst audience for seven years on Saturday night – and it failed to beat rival Strictly Come Dancing<\/p>\n
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And one report claimed Cheryl Cole was
\nset to return to the X Factor to give the show a boost.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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No chance: Cheryl Cole will not be returning to the show that unceremoniously dumped her <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But this was categorically denied by the Girls Aloud’s singer’s spokesperson.
<\/span><\/p>\nThis sounded even more unlikely against the backdrop of Cheryl’s $1.4million lawsuit against the U.S. X Factor blindsided show bosses.<\/span><\/p>\nA source close to Cowell said: \u2018This is a
\nbolt from the blue. Simon thought he\u2019d patched things up with Cheryl.
\nBut now she\u2019s attacking when the show is weak.’ <\/span><\/p>\nIn Sunday’s live final James, was speechless as he learned that he had gained more votes than runner up Jahmene Douglas.<\/span><\/p>\nHe said: ‘Thank you, thank you so much. Have I really won? Wow. I don’t know what to say.’<\/span><\/p>\nJahmene praised the winner and told Dermot: ‘It’s such a blessing to even share a stage with such a talent, he’s my idol.’<\/span><\/p>\nThe Middlesbrough-born star, who won with 54 percent of the public vote, was presented with his winner’s single, a cover of Shontelle’s Impossible.<\/span><\/p>\nA spokeswoman for the show said: ‘The
\nseries has only just ended but of course we’ll review the production, as
\nwe do with all our long-running shows. No details on next year’s show
\nhave been decided yet.’<\/span><\/p>\n