Because he was given an obscene amount of money to stay with Idol. He signed a new 3 year deal worth $45 million ($15 million per season) to stay with Idol in '09 and just for the record that deal increased Idol's costs by about 17% per season. Having said that it would have been a mistake to get him for X Factor anyway especially with Paula and Simon on the judging panel.

In 10 years time everyone may have multi tuner DVRs - and will be recording a lot more, rather than chasing the +1 channels which don't help when a viewer wants to watch 2 x 2hour programmes.

I agree that I think he's lost a bit of enthusiasm for the show as a whole. He's a lot better interviewing former X Factor acts than other artists; he seems more comfortable with them. I don't think his interaction with the panel is as good as last year bar Louis but that's understandable.

Urgh all day arguing over SCD/XF :sleep:

Ahh GeorgeS was not here - so not a real argument.

He should be here tommorw because X Factor should beat strictly

I have a feeling he won't be here next saturday though

He probably wouldn't have time to do it because of his many work commitments, the man's a workaholic!

I don't know who could replace Dermot should he quit the show, there isn't many up and coming presenters who have worked their way up unlike say Graham Norton who started in comedy before doing shows on Channel 5 like Jack Doherty before getting his own chatshow on Channel 4.

If Strictly wins tonight I think he may de-register.

There's always a need for sarcasm.


Although as pointed out several times throughout this thread the real crisis isn't the year-on-year declines (as everyone has pretty much agreed that was always likely to happen) but the general lack of momentum and upward movement. Dropping week-on-week is not a good sign and is at least close to a crisis particularly when you consider that drop puts you below 10 million for the first time in a while.

I think people need to remember that this is The X Factor and not The Cube. This isn't a show that can safely roll on with 5 million viewers. The expectations of what it should be achieving are much higher and therefore it is judged on a different scale. The same is true for Strictly its not a run of the mill light entertainment show but the crown jewel of the BBC's light entertainment output and is expected to perform as such.

It is staggering how there is basically no new presenting talent anywhere on British television these days. This really is a problem that both ITV and the BBC in particular should be looking to correct because they cannot continue to use the same handful of talent to host every show they have. We've seen Ant & Dec's star power fade in recent times which begs the question who is ITV going to ultimately replace them with? Vernon Kay? And I think it speaks volumes for the talent development at the BBC that their biggest light entertainment format is hosted by Bruce Forsyth and that Nick Knowles has somehow become a primetime Saturday night host (seriously how on earth did that happen?).

I suppose its good that the BBC have given Darren McMullen the hosting job for the revamped Magicians. They're at least trying to find somebody who isn't Graham Norton or Nick Knowles. But why aren't ITV using shows like Xtra Factor to develop new presenting talent more pro-actively? Do they really see Olly Murs being a star host for them in years to come?

However given the way things are going at ITV these days I'd put money on Keith Lemon replacing Dermot on The X Factor.

And it should be noted that the BBC has the same problem with The Voice. Who the hell hosts that? The vague idea seems to be 'somebody from Radio 1...?' but that's about all anyone really has.

No Danncc today either to comment on the Big Brother ratings. Odd- where are the regulars?

I think this is an interesting discussion that can be had without rudeness to each other. I have no wish to get personal, simply discuss something which interests us all. But thank you for the apology.


Ah, now this is a more interesting point, yes. So far, in final figures, the first six weeks of The X Factor 2011 rated very much on a par with 2010. However, there has usually been more of an upward swing from Week 7 or 8, which hasn't happened here.

The overnights have dropped a bit in the last couple of weeks, I await the final figures with interest, to see if that pattern remains once all the data is known.

I still think the term 'crisis' is a bit over the top – but that's a matter of opinion, I suppose!


I don't think anyone suggested anything remotely like that. Why do you think we need to remember this? I am fairly sure everyone here is already aware of this.


Strictly is also down a little bit year-on-year, but the signs so far are that Strictly is beginning to build momentum, as the competition carries on. It is still unlikely it will match 2010 levels, but it may yet come close.

Rational thinking is not a thing often used in this thread though!


GeorgeS has seemingly become too busy to post here just when X Factor's problems struck. The two surely cant be linked?


They are, the next series will follow that formula, its airing on BBC1 next spring and called The Voice.

It was asked why The X Factor's live show may struggle when comparing it to the Results by such an extent...is it just me or does anyone else think it flows so much better and quicker than the Saturday show? It's only 45 minutes shorter than the Saturday show but it feels even shorter than that, if that makes sense.

Forgive me if i'm wront but i thought the Voice auditions were filmed in front of an audience but the judges turn their chairs so they can't see the contestents?

I do think the producers really reduced his role at the auditions this year - he seemed to be on screen much less than usual - as if they were wanting to keep their options only and easily slot someone else in and pretend they were at the auditions instead.

Dermot though is one of the best presenters around - but you can tell he is just going through the motions somewhat this year. I wonder if Caroline and Olly might get a promotion - they've done pretty well with The Xtra Factor IMO, though the ratings are still a way off what they were with the Willoughbooby. (Actually should Dermot leave bringing Holly back would be a good move!)

I pointed this out because the tried and tested response for The X Factor ratings discussion is 'but that's a fantastic figure...' or 'how can you say x is bad?'. So I think people need to remember that this is supposed to be the biggest show on British television so when it drops that is a big deal even if the raw figure is still fantastic. Remember the raw figures for Red or Black were pretty good in the grand scheme of things but its a game of expectations just as much as anything else.

Yes The Voice auditions are done in front of an audience although because of the way the actual judging/selection process works they aren't anywhere near as annoying or 'fifth judge' as they are with The X Factor.


It was odd that he was basically MIA during the early stages of the show. He even appeared more during the auditions for his first year when he wasn't there half the time because of his Big Brother commitments. The whole show has just been very odd this year.

To be honest though I really don't think Dermot is one of the best presenters around at least not for this type of show. Actually let me rephrase that I don't think he should be one of the best presenters around for this type of show but given the complete lack of talent development we've seen over the past decade he probably is.

Well, by the same token, you should remember that on the face of it 10 million IS a fantastic figure. And with that said up front, we can then start talking about the context.

I'm perfectly well aware of how we should be comparing The X Factor to its own success, rather than – to use your example – The Cube. However, when I DID compare The X Factor to its own previous figures, you were quick to shout me down.

I'm not biased here, I don't particularly watch or enjoy The X Factor myself, so I have no vested interest. I don't have a bias to one channel over another. I'm probably more impartial than many here.

Now, The X Factor figures are down a bit, yes, but not by nearly as much as is being made out. If the trend continues to the end of this series, then we'll have a better idea of of how big this supposed 'crisis' really is. But from what we've heard earlier this week, advertisers do not seem overly concerned just yet.

One has to wonder how long ITV1 expected The X Factor to run. I imagine that even with figures in the 9/10 million range, they'll want a change sooner or later anyway. How many shows of this nature last longer than 10 years?

It certainly makes for interesting discussion!

There are now only 5 weeks till the X Factor final. As has been said on hear it's not growing it's falling so when/if will we start seeing the grow that we always see for the show except this year?

But that 13.9m was from 8am until 1.35pm!

It's nonsense to say "the wedding average" runs from breakfast until lunchtime. As far as I'm concerned, BBC1's average for the 90 minutes of the ceremony and procedurals (which ITV in their scheduling billed separately IIRC) was 19m.

I don't think that audience will be beaten this year.


I'm sure they tried a primetime "Best of" Countryfile about 10 years ago in a weekday slot, either 7pm or 8pm, can't remember which. Anyway, it got about 4m and wasn't considered a success. But the Sunday morning Countryfile was a lot more "farmer oriented" i think. They have made it more mainstream now.

As I keep saying, it's a remarkable programme really - 50 weeks a year, an hour a week, always fresh and interesting, and 5-7m viewers each week.


Well the Beeb have certainly gone out of their way to be nice to Downton after keeping it in check nicely with Spooks.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Louis Theroux on BBC2 beats Da Vinci's art waffle on BBC1.


Reading the Sugar-Piers spat upthread, I did wonder if George is really Piers Morgan, and he's been too busy tweeting ratings bile to come on here today.

Then again, does that mean I'm Alan Sugar....?

BTW, That Sunday Show is car crash this week. And that's before the ratings come out...

People have said before that That Sunday Night show is a strange mix of about 2 or 3 different formats. Tonight they have taken that to a whole new level.

I haven't see such a weird mix of features since That's Life went off air.

anyway, enough about that, back to The X Factor...

If it can't find the 'x' ingredient to give it a boost not until the final, though I think it will start to stabilise around the 10m mark (for the main shows) now. It needs to anyway, after maybe a dip next week.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's noticed that. I don't see much of X Factor, but I watched his quiz 1 Vs 100, and he was swaying around and swivelling on his heel on that show. Very annoying. And he was awkward with the contestants when they stood near him or touched him.

I think Fearne Cotton should do The Voice, people may slate her but she's a decent presenter but she's mostly been doing radio and Celebrity Juice, Holly's capable as well but has This Morning. The key thing with Fearne and Holly as well as people like Reggie Yates is that they started on children's television with stuff like Diggit and Ministy of Mayhem. Ant and Dec although known for being in Byker Grove did SMTV Live with Cat Deeley which proved they were capable presenter.