Quote:
“ X FACTOR judge Gary Barlow is quitting to relaunch Take That — paving the way for Simon Cowell to return to the hit show he created.
Singer Gary, 42, has told X Factor bosses he will be too busy to do the series again next year as he will be working on a new Take That album and tour.
Gary signed a £1.5million deal to continue as X Factor head judge after the group’s new album was delayed.
But he has now started working on the record with other band members, and managers are making plans for a major European tour in 2014 and 2015.
The band, who shot to fame in the ’90s with debut album Take That And Party, will go into the studio in February and release the tracks late next year.
A source said: “Gary’s a decent bloke and figured it was best to lay his cards on the table as early as possible. He wants to get back to what he does best, recording a new Take That album and touring with his bandmates.
“It looks like there’s no room for X Factor so this is likely to be his last year.
“The producers always feared his day job would get in the way, and they’re delighted they’ve had him for three years.
“I’m sure they’ll present Gary with a plan that could see him do both — they moved auditions in 2010 to allow him to meet his gig commitments — but they know three years on X Factor is likely to be enough for him.”
Gary’s departure will alarm ITV chiefs who see him as a big draw — but it could also see Cowell return to the show.
The X Factor guru ruled himself out of the UK series due to commitments on the US version. But the American show has fallen to below ten million viewers and if channel chiefs axe it Cowell will be free to return to ITV.
The UK show has lost three million viewers without Cowell as an on-screen judge and an insider said: “ITV desperately want him back on The X Factor. They hate the fact that their biggest show is missing its biggest draw.”
Gary is due to join Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger for X Factor’s arena auditions on Monday, when they will select which acts go through to the boot camp stage.
Last night Gary’s spokesman insisted: “He hasn’t made any decisions on next year.””
“ X FACTOR judge Gary Barlow is quitting to relaunch Take That — paving the way for Simon Cowell to return to the hit show he created.
Singer Gary, 42, has told X Factor bosses he will be too busy to do the series again next year as he will be working on a new Take That album and tour.
Gary signed a £1.5million deal to continue as X Factor head judge after the group’s new album was delayed.
But he has now started working on the record with other band members, and managers are making plans for a major European tour in 2014 and 2015.
The band, who shot to fame in the ’90s with debut album Take That And Party, will go into the studio in February and release the tracks late next year.
A source said: “Gary’s a decent bloke and figured it was best to lay his cards on the table as early as possible. He wants to get back to what he does best, recording a new Take That album and touring with his bandmates.
“It looks like there’s no room for X Factor so this is likely to be his last year.
“The producers always feared his day job would get in the way, and they’re delighted they’ve had him for three years.
“I’m sure they’ll present Gary with a plan that could see him do both — they moved auditions in 2010 to allow him to meet his gig commitments — but they know three years on X Factor is likely to be enough for him.”
Gary’s departure will alarm ITV chiefs who see him as a big draw — but it could also see Cowell return to the show.
The X Factor guru ruled himself out of the UK series due to commitments on the US version. But the American show has fallen to below ten million viewers and if channel chiefs axe it Cowell will be free to return to ITV.
The UK show has lost three million viewers without Cowell as an on-screen judge and an insider said: “ITV desperately want him back on The X Factor. They hate the fact that their biggest show is missing its biggest draw.”
Gary is due to join Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger for X Factor’s arena auditions on Monday, when they will select which acts go through to the boot camp stage.
Last night Gary’s spokesman insisted: “He hasn’t made any decisions on next year.””
