that all the judges were invited back next year if they wanted to return on Xtra Factor. Surely he can't be happy with this years judging performance. Sharon is rarely there during the week so doesn't mentor her acts at all and then come the live shows it is touch and go whether people think she is drunk or not.

Louis and Sharon were supposed to create mischief together, that is why they wanted them both back on the panel, but they have both been dull and far from mischievous.

Louis still claps like a demented seal and Sharon is pretty vacant as the song goes! Neither of them have been mischievous or fun, and instead of one person coming out with inane critque like "I can see you in the final" in week 2 and "you get better and better every week", "that performance was world class", they both do. Its like crap critique in stereo!

Even Nicole has been pretty dull this year, not even the kookie "schmazing" and general "mad of a box of frogs" comments, this year she has actually tried to give proper technical feedback, but gets shouted over by Cowell who seems to have lost all of his nastiness and just loves everyone, or should I say "D'know wot", he even liked the joke acts this year.

The song choices have been pretty awful as well for the majority of the young contestants who have had to sing old fashioned songs that don't show them off as artists. As i am sure none of the judges actually pick them, then lets hope he also hasn't confirmed the producers back for next year as well!

Why on earth would he try and confirm the same panel now with such poor ratings and poor panel performances!

The only interesting thing about him confirming that in Xtra Factor is that when he said about everyone coming back next year, Rylan kept trying to get him to confirm if he actually meant everyone can come back next year (including him and Matt Edmondson), or just the judges. The repetitive joke about them being fired after this series, is clearly on his mind!

The show is old and tired just like three of the judges.

I am becoming more convinced that people who progress in the TV and music industries are not necessarily good at what they do. It's about who you know combined with some luck and a bit of drive. The judges (including Cowell) and the producers have all had an absolute shocker this year.

I totally agree, that is why I amazed he wants them all back. He fired them all last year because of the ratings, but this year they are lower and they are all coming back.

I think that Simon Cowell is basically getting ITV to pay for him to spend Saturday night with his mates!!!

The only one person to come out positively from this year is Dermot!

Show is a sinking ship, that's why. Who will want to be associated with it if Louis and Sharon were to leave?

Simon would have to draft in people from his own stable. I'm sure one-hit wonders Fleur East and Sinitta would be happy for the exposure as people with 'real experience of the music industry'.

The judge who annoys me the most this year is hands down Simon. It REALLY irritates me how he keeps interrupting the other judges by shushing or shouting "shut up!" whenever they are giving feedback that could be considered (in the loosest possible way) constructive criticism. That's so rude and unprofessional, and unfair to the acts themselves who might actually want to hear what everyone, not just Simon, has to say.


That's absolutely true, I can vouch for that. Especially when it comes to A&R nobody has a clue what they're doing, because how could you - you won't know whether a record is going to sell or be popular and connect with the audience until you release it and see.

And getting your first job in the music industry will the hardest thing you'll ever do if you don't have friends or relatives in influential positions. After that though, if you're good at networking and reasonably competent, your second job will come through word of mouth. I got mine with a text message.

I think they've done a good job so yeah it aint broke so don't try fixing it

It's totally broke, 5.5m viewers compared to 17m in his hey day, 1m down from last year and not a hope in hell of any of the remaining acts selling records after the winners single. How is that not broke?