That may just be the way they want it to come across in PR terms

But TOWIE's audience (like all of these constructed reality shows) is tiny. They might flood the tabloids and magazines but in the grand scheme of things basically nobody is watching them. Having said that, that The X Factor has been reduced to mimicking a barely watched ITV2 series several years after said ITV2 series was in anyway, shape or form relevant pretty much says everything really...

And even that wasn't as good as when Eva Pope was the headteacher. I would agree that it went down hill when Mr Byrne started who has never been a big enough face to carry the show, along with other weak characters such as the Diamonds.

I don't think it's even very watchable anymore, I'll probably give up when Josh & Scout leave, which may be after these 10 episodes.

As I don't watch it, I am blissfully unaware of how TOWIE-type elements are being incorporated into TXF. Can someone explain; it sounds bizarre? It sounds like the silly 'acting' inserts which the celebs and professional dancers do on Strictly, which is actually one other thing I would bin, along with Tess.

If only that were the case.

And even if it were all just a PR stunt its a terrible one and I can't help but wonder what they think it achieves.

This year for example what kind of PR is it to have a mad scramble to find a fourth judge because seemingly nobody wants to do it? Worse than that though it seems the new judge they settled on is going to be the guest judge they lined up during the auditions that got the least positive reaction. At this stage they must surely be kicking themselves that they didn't take the plunge and get Mel B who seemed to go down incredibly well. Its all well and good building up who the new judge will be as a PR stunt but that's not what they did this year at all. Plus for the past two years that build up has been terrible.

Last year it was 'will Cheryl return' and they ended up with Kelly Rowland and Tulisa.
This year there was again a dose of will Cheryl return plus will Dannii return (who is unfathomably popular with The X Factor audience it would seem) plus a fairly extensive list of guest judges and potential names thrown around and they ended up with Nicole what's her face who got fired from The X Factor US for being rubbish.

Its just staggering how badly managed the show has been the past few years.

Far, far better as in 10m at least?

The Strictly inserts are mostly played for laughs though. The producers don't put those in and expect the audience to take them all that seriously. Regardless that's not really what The X Factor has been doing this year. Rather we've been 'treated' to horribly staged interactions between different acts backstage and outside before their auditions. And just a generally increased back story for every one that performs. And worse its all played completely straight.

I wasn't going to give a figure, but I would have thought 9m would be a ballpark target. More than that would be good; less, a bit disappointing for ITV perhaps. And Fudd's projection of a SIGNIFICANT FALL on last week (well below 8m) would be catastrophic, bank holiday or no bank holiday.


No, but they're not funny at all imo.They get away with it because of the general light-hearted nature of the show.


Ah I see, thank you for explaining. But isn't TXF horribly staged anyway; is this such a radical departure? Gosh it sounds hideous.

If that's the case it'd be a complete disaster.

The whole show needs a shake from top to bottom. It's as though they've given up simply because the judging panel isn't what they hoped for but they could still have a half decent show if it was edited effectively.

Well The X Factor better start picking up soon because Strictly is round the corner and they won't want to be playing second fiddle to them.

I can't remember The X Factor thread being so quiet. The episode itself was one of the worst audition shows ever - a dour start leading to a programme which lacked auditions; it started fifteen minutes earlier than last week which seemed to catch people out on the thread; it's a bank holiday weekend so arguably not so many people will be watching TV and it's following on from a poorly rated (relatively speaking) show last week.

If it increases it will be a minor miracle IMO.

Yes, and if TXF's figures remain limp or sag further (and I freely admit they could pick up or surge, who knows?) could the Beeb be emboldened to clash Strictly with it, or at least start at a reasonable time like 19:00, pushing Dermot and co later?

Another thought - it sounds like TXF at the moment is accentuating the 'bad' bits from which TVUK was trying to distinguish itself, i.e. TXF is perhaps becoming nastier and more contrived and fake with more sob/back-stories. TVUK could benefit from the contrast, although of course they have their own issues to sort out, notably the structure of the series and the judges' interactions on the live shows.

EDIT: Sorry, "coaches'"

Well week on week DS post number comparisons were utterly useless for predicting BGT/The Voice ratings this year. One week The voice fell in posts and increased its ratings and BGT ratings fell despite an increasing number of posts and vice versa.

It will pick up to some extent - it always does. Even if the auditions are somewhat down, the effect will be muted so long as the show grows at pre-2011 rates in the latter stages. What was 'disappointing' about last years ratings was only that the growth later on was much less dramatic. If that is replicated, then certainly, the show has a ratings problem on it's hands - but we'll have to sit back and see where we're at in mid-late October before that becomes apparent.

And on the Strictly point, I've always been of a mind that these shows actually benefit each other. Same as The Voice really rather helping BGT earlier this year. The press coverage, the switchover audience effect. etc. If XF has a ratings problem, I actually think thats a worrying sign for Strictly, rather than a positive one...

BBC are already showing signs of confidence by provisionally pushing Doctor Who later on 8th September compared to next week. They're certainly turning the screw on The X Factor and the press are no longer as supportive of the commercial show as they once were.

If Strictly grabs a couple of Olympians it shouldn't have a problem and if the BBC elect to run the show past 8pm then The X Factor could have an issue in terms of scheduling as it'll lose in a clash.

If Strictly doesn't clash with The X Factor and has a couple of Olympians it will probably help The X Factor in turn. The X Factor should see an increase next week, whatever happens tonight, with Doctor Who pulling in a greater earlier evening audience and finishing in time for The X Factor to start.

I was surprised XF kept the same (on the whole) judging panel this year. It'd make me think Simon doesn't want to keep it going. However that is madness as with the US X Factor still finding his feet he will want the brand in as many countries as possible, not least the UK. Hmm.

So The Olympians could swing the ratings war this year?

Cowell wanted to sack Barlow according to his 'biographer', but that was vetoed by ITV. I wouldn't be surprised. ITV funds the talent so ultimately they have the final say, and I guess from their perspective it was better for consistency to keep largely the same panel as last year. However the exit of Kelly just seemed pointless in the end as her replacement is nothing to write home about.

I do think they should have heeded last year's decline as a sign because this series desperately needed a shake up and that just hasn't happened.

TBH the judges on X-Factor read disappointing, its like when you read the judging list of foreign X-Factor, and there is no one of any real interested, and maybe a former UK popstar.

Looking at the line up

Gary Barlow - Former popstar
Tulisa Contostavlos - Who?
Louis Walsh - Has always seemed the weakest in the line up, but maybe the truth is that he is the greatest strength.
Nicole Scherzinger - Who? seriously she isnt that well known over well, and certainly not for musical ability, she is a much better fit for the US show.

The line up, just looks like the show has given up.

Possibly; Strictly already has the upper hand going into the autumn IMO and if they claim a couple of Olympians on top of it...well I think the ratings battle will be over and The X Factor will simply be looking to hold up year-on-year.


Whereas the panel at it's peak was Louis alongside:

Simon Cowell - ok, fair enough, he's a big personality
Cheryl Cole - when she was originally picked she was seen as the worst singer in Girls Aloud
Dannii Minogue - when she was originally picked she was known more for Home and Away than a pop career

It has nothing to do with the history of the panelists; it's how they work together. One issue the show has this year is the panelists will be entering the live shows with only limited time together in a proper 'judging' environment.

And such a contrast with the US version, which as we know will feature Britney when it premieres on 12 September. I think she might overshadow the other judges (Demi Lovato, LA Reid, perhaps even Cowell) as everyone will be looking at her. Even I might catch it when it rolls around on ITV2. And of course they junked the Welsh host, Steve Jones, and have yet to replace him, although Kelly Osbourne is supposed to be close to a deal (along with a male co-host).

To put things in perspective, if someone called 8m (even when its sunny, quite frankly we wouldn't bring it up except in passing!) last year they'd be mocked.

This year? From this thread and others I get the feeling that...no one likes this show...in fact its not something anyone wants to like or expect the audience to like. The lack of any hype is incredible.

We'll see tomorrow. But I honestly think this show is in trouble.
I usually watch X Factor, I'll wait to the lives this year though and tbh if there no good, I won't watch again.

Its just no longer exciting. OH I did watch Persons of Interest (on record) though and it was some of the worst drama I'd ever ****ing seen. I blame Dan for that Bad Education remains awesome.


X Factor? Nothing makes me twitch for the remote. I continue to expect it down.

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Its a ratings thread but even so this sounds morbid BUT the News ratings for tonight will bee interesting, but they will be a testament to a man.

Well I went to the pub (no Score-esque drunk post from me ) and it was still packed like a usual Saturday night (not that I'm in there any other Saturday night!) despite the poor weather.

And then when I got home my parents said they catched up on Big Brother, watched Casualty and didn't watch X Factor! "Same old, same old" was the quote put towards me....