THE X Factor “may not return” after being rested for a year, HOAR can reveal.
ITV boss Kevin Lygo has said the channel is not in talks to revive Simon Cowell’s talent show after its planned 12 month hiatus.
The singing series has been a fixture on ITV for 16 years but it’s future is up in the air as Simon ponders what to do with the once-hugely successful format.
ITV boss Kevin Lygo has said: “It’s not definitely returning, it might return, and if it does the format will tweak.
“I think people always talk about format changes. I know it was the most successful entertainment show for decades. And you need to be wary of changes, we’ll/we all think there were too many changes towards the end of the run, but I’m sure X Factor will be back at some stage and it’s really: ‘when is the right moment’.
“Simon controls it more than we do. When does he want it to come back, how does he want to come back? Hopefully we can be part of it.”
It comes after Simon signed a new deal to air Britain’s Got Talent until 2024, which included a 2020 version of X Factor.
But sources say the music mogul now wants to rest it to see if there is any life in the old format before trying to bring it back.
A TV insider told HOAR’s bizarre column: “Simon wants to really think through the show and how to reinvigorate it for the future.
“Although The X Factor is contracted for one more series, ITV totally understand the rationale behind the idea of resting it this year and want to give Simon and the team the time to do what they feel is right.”
Simon attempted to revamp the format last year by introducing two new versions, X Factor: Celebrity and X Factor: The Band.
But neither mini-series managed to halt the ratings’ slide.
The X Factor launched the careers of chart superstars One Direction, Olly Murs, JLS, James Arthur and Leona Lewis.
But in the recent years show winners has struggled to achieve the same impact, both in the charts and with television audiences.
