Simon Cowell and ITV to refresh The X Factor

ITV are in talks to bring back The X Factor to Saturday night viewing, The mammoth show used to bring in up to 19 million viewers at its peak.

Production company Talkback Thames and ITV are reportedly in top-level talks about bringing it back. Live television vewing figures have taken a dive in recent years, viewers preferring to stream their entertainment. Shows like The Traitors do well as everyone will be talking about it the following day - as they used to with X Factor at its peak.

Simon Cowell is likely to take on more of a backstage role while bringing in younger judges to capture a younger audience.

The. X Factor ran from 2004 to 2018, with a celebrity version airing in 2019. Huge stars were launched like One Direction, Little Mix, Olly Murs, James Arthur and Leona Lewis. Many others are still working in music and musical theatre.

A source told The Sun newspaper “Rather than creating more flop formats they have the opportunity to give The X Factor, a sure-fire hit, a modern makeover.

“They can explore a younger, fresher panel, with new faces and have Cowell behind the scenes. The plan is for the show’s return to take on a new life and be updated to envelop social media generation.'