The X Factor looks like its turning into a chuffin MESS this year, what will "guest" judges & 2 of its full time judges unavailable for various reasons.

Do we think Strictly is likely to benefit from this and have a "good" year, or is the decline unstoppable??

It doesn't matter what happens to Cheryl Cole or Dannii Minogue, as long as the tabloids decide that Simon Cowell is still the Messiah, the X Factor will be fine.

I would expect Strictly to do about the same in the ratings as last year, maybe a bit worse. Ratings for reality tv on the whole are nose-diving at the moment, and I can't see Strictly bucking the trend, unless they get a decent line-up of celebs to give it a springboard at the start. The heavily rumoured ones so far seem a good start, and probably a good disguise for the fact that the "contenders" will almost certainly eventually turn out to be amongst the least famous cast-members.

I don't get the whole Strictly v X-Factor thing. Don't the bosses realise they have vastly different demographics and those that do like both don't choose, they tape one and watch the other.

I agree with all this - but I would add that the X Factor judges soap opera won't necessarily damage the show. Simon Cowell is very astute and already has someone spinning as much publicity out of this as possible.

TXF's only real weakness this year - and I'm amazed that nobody has picked up on this - is that there will be fewer episodes broadcast because of Cowell's commitment to launch the show in the US. That is what the BBC will be hoping to capitalise on ...

Although, like so many others, why they see the need to compete with a show that has a different demographic is beyond me ...

Or use iPlayer/whatever. Incidentally, if I watched both I'd have to watch the X Factor first because ITV's version of iPlayer is infuriatingly bad. Luckily I only watch Strictly!

It might look like a mess now, but all the X Factor will need is for St. Cheryl to make a brave return to the show and any viewers who hadn't turned in up until that point would do so.

We have it down to a fine art in my family. We watch Strictly and V+ X-Factor. After Strictly we make tea/refill wine and then watch X-Factor via V+, we usually got enough catch-up time to skip all the adverts!

I always record X Factor so I can skip through the adverts & padding.

Agree with zankoku, once Cheryl returns for say the live shows, there will be nothing else in the press that week.

OMG isn't it just! The blinking adverts do my head in

Is he doing work for it this autumn? I was wondering when they'd do auditions, but I figured they'd wait til next Spring/Summer. Be smart to do them as the same time as the Idol auditions so he can get a flattering comparison right off the bat, not that Idol isn't as dead as Kara DioGuardi's eyes at this point.

Totally agree - and if you were really desperate, it isn't that hard to work out a way to watch both shows at the same time!

Personally, I think the BBC shouldn't let XF/ITV dictate where they should put Strictly in the schedules. Like others have said, both shows cater to different audiences, so if they clash, it shouldn't matter, but we all know which side will start wingeing about a potential weekly-clash because it will dent their own show from getting the astronomical ratings seen in 2009.



Does anybody else think this shows what a sorry state popular culture in this country is in? A large section of the nation obsessing about one member of a 'judging' panel making a return to a hyped up karaoke show. Oh dear.

It's like the old saying goes; "You'll never go broke appealing to the lowest common denominator".

You are preaching to the choir (I'm in the choir).

Amen to that, Sister.

Amen!

If anything it will give the X factor more ratings, hype and tabloid mania.

''This week Cheryl makes her big comeback''

A week later Danni returns:yawn::yawn:





The US version of the X factor won't be launching till Autumn 2011. This years show is unaffected

Its going to be interesting what they do next year as Cowell is suppose to mentor during the week on both shows. It's not like Len and Bruno who only have to turn up to judge on both SCD and DWTS.

I agree 100%. I think its encouraging a culture of conformity and mediocracy.

NONE Cowells artists are originals..... just the same bland, factory production line acts, most of whom's careeers last about 5 mins after the show ends.

Im no fan of hers, but can you imagine Simon Cowell producing a Lady gaga??

Sorry, but I had been told from a very reliable source that this year's show is affected. Maybe they got the wrong end of the stick ...

i watch both shows but always watch strictly first.

It's not exactly the world's biggest secret that Simon's 'mentoring' is pretty minimal.

I've no doubt that St. Cheryl will drag herself off her sick bed in time for the live shows, and Danni will be back. I also suspect some people will tune in to see the guest judges - Geri Halliwell spouting some insanities will be worth watching!

How on earth is watching a washed up ex-Spice Girl wheeling out scripted cliche's to talented nobodies vaguely entertaining?

Wow, the masses are easily pleased aren't they. Is it any wonder TV is in such a state.

I can't understand why any sane person would even consider watching that X Factor crap! Strictly is FAR, FAR SUPERIOR!

The racket produced by so-called "singers" on X Factor sounds like mass murder at a cattery!

so tired of the FIX FACTOR will be watching scd 8 ,highlight of this years tv .watch it for the dancers not the celebs ,they are the stars now x

I doubt it. I'm more likely to watch the X factor with Cheryl out of action. I wouldn't be disappointed if her illness kept her out for the whole run of the show.

I suspect Cheryl will be back to big fanfares...

You all still sure the Xfactor is gonna have another great year??

I just feel that the format is getting tired. (prob wishful thinking on my part as I loathe it so much!!)

I think that SCD will have a better year this year, as they have initiated a (v controversial) shake up of the show. I'd have been happier with some changes in presenters/judges too but I reckon thats due next year...

In our house on a saturday night both X Factor and SCD are on the TV in seperate rooms. We can't be the only household where this happens, so it is only to be expected that the people who have the boxes which record the viewing figures also have different programmes on in other rooms. As the box may only be connected to their main TV this will not give a true figure and will only be a guide. This then would not give figures for who was recording either show.

It really doesn't matter who appears on which show as the two are quite different. Some people are more interested in singing and some dancing. That would still stand no matter which celebs were invited onto SCD.

X Factor has the edge on viewing figures because it starts a few weeks before SCD so it has already drawn it's audience before SCD starts,SCD is then playing catch up.

It has been found this week that X Factor is not exactly live singing this year in the auditions but I would imagine that fans of the programme will still watch it anyway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11056050