At this point, I don't think it would matter to Simon if she was utterly incoherent - other than Beyonce, she's one of the most high profile female pop stars around. The headlines alone would be worth more to him than an actual, functioning judge! I'm fully in support of a Louis, Sharon and Nicole panel - and I hope Sharon and Nicole's other career commitments don't rule them out of this - but I'm still side-eyeing Simon, and wondering what publicity stunt he'll pull with the judges. Those 3 are solid, dependable, and will make for a good, watchable XF series - but I'm not even sure if Simon is interested in that!!

Although I really don't think it matters just how high profile they are, more like, how likeable they are to the general public......and have they got the kind of personality that will come over on early saturday night entertainment tv......

I mean, Gary Barlow is a serious songwriter and musician and is fairly current and knowledgable of the music industry but yet, he lasted just one series....

Look at David Walliams. What does he know about spotting talent, or judging dancing acts etc, yet he's on the BGT panel, because most people will tune in just because he's one of the judges.

For me, I'm just wishing, hoping and indeed praying for Nicole to come back!

strictly has been on air for a similar length of time yes you are right, and the reason that strictly has been doing well against x factor is because people are fed up of the singing and people think x factor is staged, i do enjoy x factor but i believe the show has had its day

Barlow was there for 3 series

I would agree the best thing perhaps would be for Simon to step aside, he's been a bit of a joke for some time now,

You would assume he has things settled in order to let cheryl and ora walk away or fire them, if he hasn't I actually dread to think of who we could end up with

ermgary was a judge for 3 series.
I actally wuite liked him though

i do agree with you though

SCD isn't in the papers all year round on the way that X Factor is. It can be pretty tedious at times. BGT isn't really in the papers either except for when it's on and that seems to be going strong during season 10.

Whatever is happening they need to lock down the panel and do it soon, auditions will be starting soon.

Well Strictly Come Dancing did stays in the headlines into the new year and you know why that is and the reason x factor is still in the headlines is because they are still trying to win back viewers

Of course it's tedious, but does anyone think it's an accident that we get drip fed the 3 judges and 2 presenters leaving, plus the new presenter arriving? There's a damn good reason why they try and spread out this news, and it's not to make everyone go 'oh, another X Factor story - how tedious'! The basic fact is, the decisions about all these hirings and firings were made almost as soon as the last series was over, but they've stage-managed the media as much as they can, in order to retain a modicum of interest from the public. So every couple of weeks, another story is fed to the gossip rags, and the drip drip of XF information is stretched out to cover the 'quiet season'!

Mel b apparently

X Factor is in the papers all year round.


The issue isn't with what they're doing. The issue is that they've been wheeling out the same stories since 2011. Every single year. Each year is 'the biggest shake up ever' and how they're looking at a new format to win back viewers etc. The end result is usually the same, a programme that was more or less the same as the previous year but with new faces and lower ratings. Then the process begins again. Announcing Cheryl's exit in April is just pointless. The programme doesn't go on air until late August. They should have just let it all fly under the radar and announced the new panel ahead of the auditions in June and built any 'hype' from there. It would have achieved exactly the same.

Daily Mail seem confident that Nicole is returning
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...bourne-63.html

Do NOT want Sharon, don't care about Louis. I'd be happy with Simon, Nicole. Dannii, Louis

thats because x factor is not doing well as it should have done is the reason it keeps showing up in the newspapers

Pensioner panel will get the lowest ratings to date.

Most folk are long since over Osborne and Walsh.

Who are they expecting to appeal to with that panel

Can't say "most" when the opinions on this thread are pretty split, 50-50.

They could always do a Geordie Shore/TOWIE type reality show of the contestants in the house each week and show as a one hour programme on, say, Wednesday evenings.

I thought live Xtra Factor on Thursdays was a good move with exclusive song choice reveals - they just put it at the wrong time clashing with the soaps.

Niicole is coming back

How ageist..

It can't do any worse than last year despite a younger panel. Rita ora hasn't a brain in her head.

I just didn't like Nick. Rather have Louis' book of repeating catchphrases.

He has the experience to judge comedians/comedy acts

Rylan was calling for Sharon, Louis and Nicole this morning.

It can and it will

I agree. Maybe the panel was a little bit to young alongside Simon last year but to move on in the completely opposite is the wrong Signal to push the ratings. For me this probably panel looks more like a farewell season.

I get that feeling too.

Although they'll probably say it's being "rested" rather than ended.