X FACTOR: The Band has arrived hot on the heels of X Factory: Celebrity but come under fire from fans branding it a “rehashed” version of Popstars The Rivals.
The first episode of Simon Cowell’s new ITV series aired on Monday, with the speedy show to find a new supergroup ending on Sunday.
The audition scenes, featuring just the music mogul and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, were set in Simon’s Sony HQ offices in London.
The series replaces the previously plannedX Factor All Starspin-off that was going to seeprevious winners face off against each other.
Instead, the pair – along with a host of celebrity judges such as Leona Lewis – are tracking down a major pop phenomenon to compete with major international acts.
In the opening show, Simon said: “We’re looking with people with personality, humour, a sense of where they are going… we’re not looking for puppets.”
Yet viewers of the first episode claimed they had seen it all before in Popstars: The Rivals – which saw the formation of Girls Aloud and One True Voice in 2002.
One took to Twitter to muse: “Trying to figure out what the difference is between this programme and the previous Popstars the Rivals besides the overwhelming portrait of Simon Cowell.”
A second put: “So…this is basically Popstars: The Rivals but in 2019.”
A third quizzed: “Isn’t this just a rehashed version of Popstars/Popstars: TheRivals from the early 00s?”
One added it felt like a throwback, and put: “Feels like Im watching Popstars Rival that never happened on VHS.”
Yet one fan appeared overjoyed at the similarity between the shows and put: “Can’t wait for X factor the band if the x factor wants to attract viewers this is what they need to do like the days of popstars the rivals this looks promising.”
Simon says he wants to find a new pop phenomenon to compete with Korean K-Pop acts such as the top-selling boy band BTS.
He said: K-Pop is ruling the world. This is a show to find a band to launch UK-Pop. Its more than winning a record contract, its starting a new music wave.
Every group will be put together by us just likeOne Direction,Little MixandFifth Harmony.”
The TV mogul concluded: “Its people who represent Britains version of K-Pop. That was always our plan. Weve just brought it forward a bit.
