BGT, I'm a Celebrity and Big Brother are all still big shows for their respective channels and still get good feedback, but the figures are a fair bit down on what they have achieved in the past. Just because X Factor isn't hitting 14-17m viewers like it was 3 years ago doesn't suddenly make it a failure and it can probably continue for quite some time as one of the biggest shows on TV as long as its hitting 9-11m viewers weekly.

I do think it will rate a bit higher than last year as long as they up their game with the advertising, I'd go for an official series average of about 9.5m.

The official series average for last year was 9.63m, so if you think it'll rate higher than last year, it should end up with more than 9.5m. Of course, we won't really get a real idea until we see how the show gets off for the auditions, and the live shows (which are practically key).

See that's not a bad average at all. It amazes me how people think, with an average like that, ITV will axe the show. It needs to average at something horrible like 6 million before it's place on the channel is even questioned.

It won't be axed like that. I don't think it can really suffer a 20-30% fall again, the revamp should definitely help it see a rise. In the battle of the ITV talent shows (XF & BGT), I think X Factor will come on top this year. As for XF vs Strictly, no idea as to what'll happen but it would be nice to see XF ahead again. They can't really afford to fall behind Strictly, especially on final weekend.

XF 2011 launched well and was very steady throughout the auditions because people wanted to see the new panel. It fell apart in the live shows. XF 2008 had a new addition in the form of Cheryl, and that series continued to increase.

It's strange how it's like we're back in 2008 again, and watching the ratings start from a low base and then increasing, ignoring the ratings of 2009 & 10 when making comparisons.

It seems like it could be starting on the 31st.

Wasn't there a rumour late last year that the producers were wanting to start it in early September to coincide with people returning to school? It was accompanied by the return of the closed rooms rumour as well so it seems like it was true.

Found it: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s103/...series-10.html

There is no XF on the provisional schedules for the 24th, and Xtra Factor Rewind seems to be scheduled for Monday the 26th on ITV2 at 8pm so the series starting that coming Saturday would make sense.

I think it'll definitely be double bills right from the beginning. This would probably lead to the series running like this:

31st August - Auditions 1
1st September - Auditions 2
7th September - Auditions 3
8th September - Auditions 4
14th September - Auditions 5
15th September - Auditions 6
21st September - Auditions 7
22nd September - Auditions 8
28th September - Bootcamp 1
29th September - Bootcamp 2
5th October - Judges Houses 1
6th October - Judges Houses 2

And so on. It'll probably be 3 weekends of the rooms and the last two shows being the arenas. Nothing's been confirmed yet of course.

I really can't see the show starting on the 31st. Double bills would be an overkill. I'd premiere it with a double bill, but then just continue every Saturday. Plus, the advertising campaign is well under way. I wouldn't have thought they would have released the main series promo (out today) if the show was to start on the 31st. It's too early imo.

I think it's quite likely it will premiere on the 24th still. Time will tell...

We should see the confirmed schedules for the 24th some time soon.

Good, I really want to know when the show is starting. I need it to start within the next two weeks because I can't keep waiting, it's making me wish the entire summer away

The auditions episodes go on for far too long in this country. In Australia and America they are in bootcamp after 2 or 3 weeks.

Possibly because there's more footage to go through here.

And because they show them in double bills whereas we don't

Yep, and that.

They've got a good advertising campaign this year, wonder how it will translate in the ratings.

I think there's quite a lot of hype surrounding the new series, more so than the previous year. I think ratings could be reasonably good actually

Yes, hopefully if ratings are good enough too they may be able to convince all the judges to stay, I think this year's panel will be the first to work well in while

It needs to be all about the contestants again. That's partly what made series 5-7 a success, and BGT 2009 a huge success (maybe not on the level of XF 2010 though but it still did extremely well - despite a shorter run it beat XF 2009 in the officials (by 336k ). Also, we need a new set for the live shows. It makes sense for them to do that if they want to make it fresh again.

From what I've read, they haven't cut a number of acts at bootcamp before they had sung, so looks like bootcamp will be a lot better this year

Agree with you completely

Worth pointing out that ratings have dipped at bootcamp each year, except for series 7 (although you could say series 1). There seems to be a 'twist' this year - it'll be interesting to see how it translates to TV.

It looks like the schedules for 24th are confirmed, and all that ITV have to offer that evening is Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince.

31st it is I guess. Double bills from the beginning as well I assume.

It's official. Xtra Factor Rewind is down for 24th at 9pm so it'll be starting on 31st. Time to start counting down!

I was going off the ratings on the previous page- I didn't realise they were overnights. In either case I think it will rate roughly in line with the 2008 series.

Back to the launch date. from the advertising campaign it looks as though the structure will be 'the room', the arena auditions, bootcamp and so on. So they're almost certain to be launching with double bill weekends from the off. There will probably be 3 weeks of the room, 2 weeks of the arena, with bootcamp and judges houses following, and live shows beginning on the 12th October, with the final on 14th December.

*15th December (14th is the Saturday). And yes, it looks like the only way they'll fit them all in is with double bills. It's probably a good way to keep up the momentum.

Projections for the launch show, going off the [excluding +1] figure of last year's launch of 8.09m:

-5%: 7.68m
-10%: 7.28m
-15%: 6.88m
-20%: 6.47m
-25%: 6.07m

+5%: 8.5m
+10%: 8.9m
+15%: 9.3m
+20%: 9.71m
+25%: 10.11m

I can't see it being lower than 5% if it drops, but if it rises (I'll be surprised if it doesn't), then I can personally see it rising by at least 15%.

So, seeing as it's practically confirmed to be August 31st, what are your predictions?

I really don't know what to expect. The advertising campaign has been fantastic this year. The rooms are back, and so is Sharon. They've done everything they can so I am hopeful for a higher opener than last year. This series hasn't even started but it seems to have attracted a lot of people already. It's having a really great build up, and that's something I don't think the past couple of series have had. I'm hopeful for the series launch to get around 9M. It would be amazing to see it get an audience of 10M, but that's me wishfully thinking and being ambitious. Having said that, the BGT launch peaked with 13M this year. Maybe it will be the year of Simon again, and The X Factor gets impressive ratings