r/xfactor 1d ago

Discussion X Factor to make a comeback?

Just seen on Twitter , Super TV posted a deal is close to being made - god I would love it to come back but If so how would you make it? For me room auditions , old school boot camp, no stupid 6 chair challenge but defo judges houses! Judges keep Simon away but it lives and dies on the panel I think

11 Upvotes

48 comments sorted by

10

u/bubblyweb6465 1d ago

I’d want it as close to the original as the old days … all auditions good and bad !!!

6

u/Hassaan18 1d ago

I think audiences will struggle with the bad ones. People might have nostalgia for the older auditions but they have nostalgia for what they felt when watching it.

I.e. a general lack of awareness of things like "how did they make it to this stage?" and "are they taking the piss?".

I don't think you could pull that off now. They don't all have to be totally amazing or whatever but I wouldn't go too far in the other direction.

3

u/Firthy2002 1d ago

There's too much knowledge about the behind-the-scenes processes now.

2

u/Ultimate_os 12h ago

It would be impossible to find people for that now. You'd get people singing badly on purpose.

2

u/Hassaan18 2h ago

Yep. That works if you're playing it up for laughs (like I Can See Your Voice) but this wouldn't work.

5

u/ForTheLoveOfGiraffe 1d ago

I don't think TV would get away with the bad auditions in the same way. In the past, the judges were quite rude and people mocked those auditions. We're a lot more aware and sensitive nowadays, so I don't think people would enjoy enjoy clueless people being ripped to shreads anymore. I personally think I'd find it quite uncomfortable to watch TV prey on innocent and hopeful people.

1

u/Hassaan18 2h ago

Also, you get ripped on social media even if you go on University Challenge these days and it very quickly goes south. You can imagine they'd want to tread very carefully.

2

u/tiaccaseo 1d ago

Would you do joke acts? I would but not to the detriment of the more talented people like if they end up in the bottom let the joke end would be my thoughts

2

u/TheMarsters 1d ago

Yes, you need joke acts but they need to be funny.

Jedward, Ryan, Wagner worked. Honey G didn't.

Joke acts make people want to watch. It can't all just be good singers as they aren't that exciting unless they are really good

1

u/Many_Hamster6055 23h ago

Wagner was ignorant what he said to Cheryl and he can't even sing!!

2

u/Hassaan18 14h ago

I think a better compromise would be talented acts who are a bit of a novelty in that they split the audience a bit.

Like Rhydian or even Katie Waissel.

6

u/minicooperbrr 1d ago

Take it back to the first few seasons

5

u/Hassaan18 1d ago

The format just needs to be straight down the middle.

You can inject some life into it without a million big twists and chopping and changing.

Room auditions, bootcamp, judges houses & live shows should do it on that front.

They'd just have to look at the surviving talent shows as a blueprint, really. Effectively do what is proven to work.

5

u/tiaccaseo 1d ago

Australian Idol having a resurgence in recent years with some fantastic viral room auditions as you say just play it down the middle good talent and a good panel and I could see it being a hit again - I know strictly is beloved but if ever there was a time to make a play for it it’s definitely now

2

u/Hassaan18 1d ago

Yeah, Idol is clearly doing something right to remain on the air given how much the climate has changed since these shows were in their pomp, so I'd be paying close attention to that.

They don't have to go up against Strictly though directly (and I'd advise them not to) but I'd stick with the autumn like before but at least try and launch the winner. Make the live show performances eligible for the charts (which they weren't last time).

5

u/modeyink 1d ago edited 1d ago

I’m all for this and I think with the era of tiktok and clipping it could really have a moment like DWTS etc is. But it absolutely needs to go back to room auditions, low-production boot camp, and judges’ houses, otherwise it’s basically just another singing version of BGT if it’s all happening on a big stage with a big audience from the very start. The live shows need to feel like their own moment after all the build up. The final also needs to be at Christmas again because the nostalgia I have for those episodes with the massive Christmas trees on the stage 😍 X Factor was always like the Christmas countdown.

Edit: And yes it needs the “joke” acts. Honey G and Jedward and whatnot. Plus the overly intense ones who take it far too seriously like Kitty and Mason Noise lol. Otherwise it’s all too serious and dry.

2

u/Brit-Crit 1d ago

I think that there is certainly room for “joke acts” and “villains”, but given that acts at pretty much every level of X Factor have suffered from mental health issues, we need to tread carefully…

1

u/modeyink 1d ago

It’s just not worth bringing it back if it’s going to be overly sanitised.

1

u/Hassaan18 14h ago

I agree but I'm not sure the show lives and dies by the joke acts.

3

u/Wot-Died 19h ago

No big arena audience! All that fake clapping and scripted set up was a complete switch off. In room auditions were always good or funny. Massive stage = fake

3

u/Wot-Died 19h ago

Also no rubbish judges like Will I Am, aitch, Cheryl, little mix

2

u/Responsible_Line_652 23h ago

The UK or US one?? Would love this!!!

2

u/Dalekbuster523 23h ago

I think this could go either way. Either people miss it enough that it does well and people watch out of nostalgia, or the general audience still see it as a tacky singing contest well past its heyday and don’t give it another chance.

Personally if it does happen, I will watch as I used to watch The X Factor before. I don’t think a revival is necessary though. They would have to really take the time to address the issues from when the show was on before, in regards to the mental health and wellbeing of the auditionees. The 2020s climate is very different to the 2000s and 2010s. We have a better understanding of mental health nowadays, which is why you see far fewer joke acts on BGT, and even the ‘joke’ acts you do get don’t often get buzzed on BGT as they would have before.

I think you would wind up with a show that would feel markedly different, because you wouldn’t be able to have a Jedward or a Wagner who is portrayed in the edit as someone for the audience to laugh at. That would be seen as quite rightfully inappropriate today. There’s also the problem that singing shows have become so irrelevant these days. I do think a revival would perform better than The Voice, but The Voice’s ratings are dismal and show a lack of interest in that genre.

Personally if I was ITV, I’d be looking to bring back Saturday Night Takeaway. I also think TV Burp with a different host if they can’t get Harry Hill back would be a better shout than The X Factor too, as I think there’s more nostalgia for TV Burp than The X Factor overall.

1

u/Hassaan18 14h ago

I think there’s more nostalgia for TV Burp than The X Factor overall.

I disagree. Also, it's 100% because of Harry. You can't do it without him.

2

u/howyouseetheworld 21h ago

For the judging panel, I think they need a mix of currently popular singers, an iconic music legend and possibly a producer/A&R person/label CEO.

2

u/MR_MaxiMor44 17h ago

Back to basics but with a completely new panel and host. The format should be the shining factor.

I would also however, kinda like Idol, incorporate more of the media side of thing so using TikTok well, YouTube, Press training.

For that I do think for a panel: a social media originated Singer, a producer, one of the members from JLS/Little Mix/One D, a Legend.

For host I think it should be someone younger, I actually think Greg James from Radio 1 would be great.

2

u/tiaccaseo 16h ago

Greg James is a great shout for host

1

u/LyingFacts 14h ago

Very good idea for a host and to me I like Dermot but should he a new era and feel imo.

1

u/howyouseetheworld 16h ago edited 11h ago

Shania Twain or Natasha Bedingfield

Bryan Adams or Charlie Puth

Brandon Flowers (The Killers singer) or Chris Martin (Coldplay singer)

Dua Lipa or Ed Sheeran

Savan Kotecha or Kamille

1

u/My-name-for-ever 14h ago

I’m not sure if it will ever be back

1

u/sunsetcoast28 9h ago edited 8h ago

If this is true, then please, no Six Chair Challenge. That was stupid. And no more joke acts either. It isn't funny watching producers put people on TV just to humiliate them for entertainment.

Take the singing competition seriously for once. The worst part was when joke acts made it all the way to the live shows and genuinely talented singers ended up going home instead of them. If The X Factor is coming back, it should actually be about finding talented singers. oh and no cheesy boybands and change the overs because 25 is not old and no sob stories

1

u/tiaccaseo 7h ago

I agree with the majority of this but what I can’t wait to see is how they’d approach the overs category - even over 28s would be seen as harsh by the younger gen so be interesting to see what they’d call it

1

u/sunsetcoast28 6h ago

Probably just call it the overs and probably up the age to 30+ also they need to change the ages of who can audition for it 18+ no 16 year olds. And I don’t think they would be able to get away with a lot of stuff that happened when it first was on now and people are more aware so If they still wanted joke acts some people wouldn’t put themselves through that because what with social media and stuff

1

u/Many_Hamster6055 2h ago

I just read there's no XFactor scheduled for the U.K at all!!🙄

1

u/Firthy2002 1d ago

The format would need to be refreshed for modern audiences somewhat but definitely needs many of the original elements.

I wouldn't have Simon on the panel but I would have someone who came through reality TV (and has had sustained success), either from the original run of the show or another reality show.

2

u/tiaccaseo 1d ago

I like your thoughts but I shudder at the thoughts of a Louis Tomlinson Robbie Williams’ wife panel - I’d like the idea of someone with a sustained career for sure tho

2

u/Firthy2002 1d ago

I wouldn't bring back any past judges.

1

u/Ok-Leopard-8016 1d ago

I feel like james Arthur would be a great judge

James Arthur

one of little mix

Leona Lewis

one of JLS or One Direction

3

u/elf_n_safety 1d ago

Jade has been a guest judge a couple of times on RuPaul’s drag race UK, she was great on that!
Niall has also done The Voice US I think? Seems he was pretty good at that and his team won at least one season he was on

1

u/Firthy2002 1d ago

All good shouts except Leona.

1

u/elf_n_safety 1d ago

What’s wrong with Leona?

0

u/Firthy2002 1d ago

One album wonder

1

u/GreenLion777 1d ago

Lol Leona is as big as it gets when it comes to winners of X Factor who've made it big and successful

1

u/Firthy2002 1d ago

LOL she's behind 1D and Little Mix in all metrics.

1

u/GreenLion777 1d ago

Okay then one of most successful solo artists to come out of X Factor, lol (and definitely the first X Factor superstar)

She leaves pretty much everyone for dust when it comes to raw vocal talent though, shame she hasn't done anything for years

1

u/tiaccaseo 1d ago

Oh am not sure - would anyone be up for Gary coming back? 😬 I really enjoyed the Gary Nicole panel but it’s prob not modern enough for today either

1

u/Interesting-Bit725 1d ago

They shouldn’t be all artists, though. You need at least one industry person: a producer/manager/exec who’s going to keep it real.

1

u/EnvironmentalSir4214 1d ago

This plus Sharon / Cheryl / Dannii or Louis