I think this is so near the truth in every way. There is no recipe for success and relying on stunt casting (Britney) or trying to reheat past chemistry (Cheryl) won't work. I also agree that Simon has lost the ball now and he must think about new projects and let this one go.

I want Simon, Louis, Nicole and Danni. DEFINITELY not Cheryl or Tulisa.

I imagine that he will be very closely monitoring American Idol to see the best strategy for X Factor UK as there are quite a few parrallels.

American Idol lost the defining and most successful panel in 2008 when they added Kara, Paula left in 2009 and then Ellen joined in 2010. None of the three panels worked.

It was reinvigorated at the start of 2011 but quickly lost its spark, and now both of those new judges have gone and been replaced. X Factor has the same problem, the panel changes have just played out in a different order. It has a great panel now judging by early reports, but the key will be to see whether or not the show itself is stale and that will only be reflected in the ratings.

It's all well and good getting the show fixed, but if noone is going to watch it because its stale then whats the point?

If Cheryl comes back, which is likely imo (unless Cowell wants her to have another go at the US one?), then I really hope it's doesn't lead to Nicole going. Simon would be an idiot to let Nicole go now.
It wouldn't surprise me if Cheryl's frantically trying to convince Dannii to come back just to get rid of Nicole

I wish Simon/the press would quit with this idea that she is the saviour of XF.
Think about it -If she was on the panel RIGHT NOW this year in place of Tulisa, then the result would probably be the same as it is now, wouldn't it?

I agree. I really think he's forgotten what makes these shows enjoyable. Britney may be a big celebrity, but she she's not enjoyable to watch. Get judges who know how to deliver the goods when it comes to judging. Look at the early series of Pop Idol/American Idol. It wasn't about having celebrity judges using the show to promote themselves.

^^This, absolutely!

I think we might get a return to the 2010 panel - I can kind of see some logic in that because that's when the show was at its most successful and two of the judges from that era (Simon & Cheryl) seem to attract more press than the current crop of judges.

Personally I'd prefer Simon returned with an all new panel around him but candidates are so thin on the ground. Bringing back old judges might be seen as a route to bringing back old viewers and getting some hype going before the series. BGT managed to build some hype before it started with Cowell back, poaching Dixon from SCD and Walliams joining as well. X Factor just didn't have that at all this year. I was expecting Barlow out and a big name replacement. Some coups for the auditions like Gamu returning or that Harriett girl from The Voice. But there was really nothing apart from an angry Pink impersonator (which wasn't exactly feel good stuff), some decidedly C List guest judges and then Nicole.

Nicole has been good but she's damaged goods. I would be quite happy to see all 4 judges shown the door at the moment and a fresh start. They're all associated with two years of dismal failure.

Importantly, they need to make some format changes as well. And pick better acts. The final has James Arthur who is arguably too "modern" for a Saturday night TV show and then Maloney who is embarrassingly cruise ship. There's a happy middle ground.

Simon would love to have Nicole and Cheryl on the same panel, imagine their 'bitter rivalry' stories it would create.

I think they should keep Louis and Nicole, purely because Nicole has been the only one that seems to enjoy being there this year and the show wouldnt be the same without Louis

Personally I dont want Cheryl back, I think Tulisa should go after this season, she has come across incredibly bigheaded, aggressive and just awful

Maybe a replacement of one of TOWIE? Or Keith Lemon?

It would be interesting dynamics if she were to come back.

Cheryl and Nicole are thought to not get along, Louis and Cheryl don't seem to get along now either, with them both saying things about the other in the press. Plus Louis really likes Tulisa, so if she was replaced by Cheryl he may be bitchy to Cheryl the way he was to Dannii in Series 5 after Sharon left.

Remind me, which contestants had a better selling album than Tulisa (not former contestants as her job is not to judge them).

"Name your price. Just don't sing it."

They could easily be seated apart anyway so wouldn't really need to have that much contact (no doubt Nicole where Tulisa is and Cheryl where Nicole is).

I'd love to see a panel with Nicole, Cheryl, Louis and Simon or Gary but I fear that it would lead to yet another divided panel- imagine last year only 1000 times worse. It works best when they all bounce off each other. I think the way forward is to ditch the fourth judge for a while and continue with Louis, Nicole & Gary. I've just mentioned in another thread that that panel (only with Simon) worked very well in series 7, possibly my favourite since the show began.

Simon just cannot take no for an answer!

It seems that Simon always fights for what he can't have... whether he wants it or not!!! LOL

Rylan to present!

No great loss.