Simon Cowell’s ‘big two fingers up to ITV’ over The X Factor. As TV insiders reveal shock next move, mogul’s secret plan being called ‘priceless retribution’ is leaked to DOLLY BUSBY
At its peak, The X Factor was the jewel in ITV’s crown, attracting 20 million viewers on a Saturday evening.
This wasn’t just a popular TV show. The reality singing competition, which has run for 14 years, has changed the face of the British music industry and birthed some of the industry’s best-known names, including One Direction, Leona Lewis, Little Mix, JLS and Olly Murs.
Yes, the TV juggernaut slowed down in later years; Viewing figures have plummeted thanks to the rise of streaming platforms and allegations of mistreatment by past contestants. But many fans were still left stunned in 2021 when ITV finally confirmed there were ‘no current plans at this stage for the next series of The X Factor’.
The pain behind the scenes, I was told, was much greater. And what was most upsetting was ITV’s vague approach to ending the beloved prime time programme: it had been off the air for three years before the network confirmed it would not return. People in TV tell me Simon Cowell has been given time to come up with a ‘new format’ to win back viewers. But when he and his team went back to ITV with ideas, the broadcaster was “not on board”.
Despite this, Cowell, believed to be worth £475 million, bit his tongue and continued working with ITV on his other hit show Britain’s Got Talent.
Simon Cowell and his team went to ITV with ideas on how to revamp The X Factor, but broadcaster Dolly Busby was ‘not on board’
Cowell (centre) worked on the show’s 14th season with former X Factor host Dermot O’Leary and judges Sharon Osbourne, second from right Nicole Scherzinger and far right Louis Walsh
But now X Factor fans will be delighted to hear that the music mogul is back on our screens with a brand new reality competition that is almost identical to his canceled show.
But this time it won’t be on terrestrial TV. Instead, Cowell is teaming up with streaming giant Netflix.
It was said that the project, which was met with great excitement in television circles, would be ‘a big two fingers to ITV’.
Simon Cowell: The Next Act was announced by Netflix as a six-episode documentary series. This docuseries will follow Cowell’s search for Britain’s next great band, from open casting calls to the release of the band’s first single.
The streaming giant’s website claims it’s a pass that gives viewers ‘all access’ to catch every moment of ‘Cowell’s next episode’.
According to my sources, Netflix executives ‘felt that bringing in a name like Simon for a real entertainment show was a strong move for the network.’
But Cowell’s motivations are different, according to insiders. They say he wants to prove that he still has the Midas touch when it comes to successfully starting a new band – just as he did magnificently with One Direction and Little Mix.
‘Plus,’ adds a source, ‘Success on Netflix would be invaluable punishment against ITV for the end of The X Factor.’
But Cowell denies such claims, with a source close to him insisting: ‘There is no rivalry or remaining issues; Simon’s focus is on exploring completely new formats and talent.’
Of course, there will be some who have their reservations about his return to the music talent show scene.
Many will remember husky-voiced contestant Katie Waissel, with her platinum blonde hair and unique rendition of Queen’s We Are The Champions; They rose to fame in 2010 when they placed seventh on The X Factor series, resulting in the show’s highest ever viewing figures.
Insiders say Cowell wants to prove he still has the Midas touch when it comes to shaping the careers of bands like One Direction
Cowell and group celebrate advancing to next round during series
However, in 2023, she filed a lawsuit against Simon Cowell’s company, Syco Entertainment, over claims that the show “ruined her life” and failed to fulfill its responsibility to the contestants.
After hearing about Cowell’s new Netflix deal, the 39-year-old actor took to X on Wednesday to write a damning statement about his former boss.
He wrote: ‘It’s truly surprising how easily the industry forgets. Another ‘comeback’, another attempt to polish the same machine that has already been trampled and caused the loss of so many lives.’
‘Seeing him re-emerge with another ‘new’ show is not entertainment, it’s repetition.
‘Recycling pain packaged as words.’
Cowell has been contacted for comment on Ms Waissel’s statement.
He was joined by a handful of former contestants who spoke out against the show.
In an X-related post in 2022, John and Edward Grimes (stage name Jedward) claimed: ‘Every contestant on The X Factor was a slave to the show and was paid zero during the competition. [producers] ‘I made millions.’
Cher Lloyd, who appeared in the same series as Miss Waissel, said she felt ‘exploited’ by the experience and 2016 champion Matt Terry said he hoped The X Factor ‘never’ returns.
But amid the storm of allegations, Cowell continued to work on the formula for his next big project.
He first found StemDrop, a social media-based talent hunt. TikTok creators around the world were asked to produce their own version of a song and then collaborate with Grammy-winning songwriters Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, and Ali Payami.
But the TikTok and Samsung-led effort, which launched in October 2022, disappeared without a trace, attracting just 142,000 followers on the platform.
A few weeks later, Cowell said there were plans to bring The X Factor back to the US as part of their NBCUniversal contract, which gave them the first right to reject plans for new unscripted series.
At the time, he said at an America’s Got Talent media event: ‘Britain or America? I have a saying in life: “Always go where you get the best invitation.”‘
But now, as he enters the new territory of streaming services, only time will tell whether Cowell still has the Midas touch. And if so, will ITV regret canceling The X Factor?
