The X Factor Page 3

Director of television at ITV Peter Fincham has suggested that the BBC has been playing a “game” for years whereby it deliberately schedules its dancing competition ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ against ‘The X Factor’ on Saturday nights in a battle of the ratings.

‘The X Factor’ returns this weekend on Saturday August 29th with its new judging line-up featuring Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora, and when ‘Strictly’ kicks off the following weekend (September 6th) the two shows will overlap by 20 minutes.

If trends continue from recent years, where ‘Strictly’ has edged ahead of its ITV rival in the ratings, then ‘The X Factor’ can expect its viewing figures to take a noticeable hit at the end of each weekly programme. “This really matters to us, because we are a commercial business,” Fincham pointed out.

Continue reading: ITV Suggests BBC Deliberately Schedules 'Strictly Come Dancing' To Clash With 'The X Factor'

Rita Ora is fed up with female ‘X Factor’ wannabes flirting with Simon Cowell and is warning them that he is “off the market”.

Ora, who joined ‘The X Factor’ judging panel earlier this year, has spent the last week wading through the official auditions for the new series of the reality show that have been going on around the country. She hasn’t liked what she’s seen from some of the female contestants, however…

“I understand the power, it’s Simon with his T-shirt and jeans and all that, I get it. But there’s a limit you have to have, a bit of decorum you need to hold,” the 24 year old admitted.

Continue reading: Rita Ora Warns Female 'X Factor' Contestants Not To Flirt With Simon Cowell

After weeks of speculation, it seems that Rita Ora has finally jumped ship from the BBC to ITV, according to insiders, and will be taking up a place on the judging panel of ‘The X Factor’, abandoning ‘The Voice’ in the process after just one year.

The Mirror reports that the 24 year old pop star has accepted the fourth and final judges’ spot, a week after it was suggested that she had been offered £1.5 million to replace the departing Mel B for the 2015 edition.

Rita Ora has reportedly accepted ITV's offer to become a judge on 'The X Factor'

Continue reading: Rita Ora Moves From 'The Voice' To 'The X Factor'

Quotes from former X-Factor judge Louis Walsh this week indicate that the Irish music manager has been replaced by Radio 1 judge Nick Grimshaw on the singing contest, though the decision is already causing dismay amongst senior ranks on the show.

Nick Grimshaw could be joining The X-Factor as a judge, though Brian Friedman isn't so sure

Brian Friedman, the long-time X-Factor choreographer who has been tipped for the judging panel himself, says Grimshaw doesn't have the experience to mentor the singing hopefuls.

Continue reading: Brian Freedman Is Against Nick Grimshaw Joining 'The X-Factor'

The X-Factor boy-band Stereo Kicks say they are "glad to be away" from their mentor Louis Walsh. The eight-piece group finished fifth on the ITV talent show and Walsh suggested they needed to cull members.

Stereo Kicks singer Tom Mann said the group are glad to be away from Louis Walsh

"We had a bumpy ride because everyone was like, 'Are there too many, are there too many? Obviously Louis didn't exactly help the situation by suggesting that a couple of us should be kicked out of the band," singer Tom Mann told The Sun.

Continue reading: Stereo Kicks "Glad To Be Away" From Louis Walsh

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini will return to The X Factor and has received a hefty pay rise. According to reports, the former Girls Aloud star has negotiated a £500K pay bump. The 31-year-old singer is the first celebrity to be signed as a judge by the show's creator, Simon Cowell, for the upcoming 12th series.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has signed on to return to The X Factor as a judge. 

Read More: Is Louis Walsh Done With The X Factor After 11 Years?

Continue reading: Cheryl Fernandez-Versini Returning To 'The X Factor' With £500K Pay Rise

Simon Cowell has praised Dermot O'Leary after the presenter announced he would no longer be hosting The X-Factor. 41-year-old Leary announced he would be leaving the show on Friday (27th March). The presenter, who has hosted the show for eight years since taking over from Kate Thornton in 2007, informed fans of his decision on Twitter.

Simon Cowell has praised Dermot O'Leary after the presenter announced he is leaving The X Factor.

Read More: Ricky Martin To Look For The New Ricky Martin On Simon Cowell's New Project La Banda.

Continue reading: Simon Cowell Praises Dermot O'Leary After Presenter Announces He's Leaving 'The X-Factor'

Ella Henderson, The X Factor alumnai's, first studio album reached the top spot by outselling its nearest rival by 16,000 copies, and becoming the second fastest-selling female debut record of 2014, just falling behind Sam Bailey's 'Power Of Love.'

Ella Henderson's debut album is going down well with fans

"To be a part of the music industry as a whole is something I'm learning to embrace, just seeing my name up there with other artists I admire and look up to is so surreal in itself," Ella Henderson told the Official Charts Company, "being Number 1 with my very first album is where a dream has met reality- it's a moment in time I will never forget."

Continue reading: Ella Henderson Earns First U.K. No.1 Album With Chapter One

As Britain’s premier pop music mogul, Simon Cowell isn’t one to mince his words. Ahead of the first live shows of the current eleventh series of ‘The X Factor’, he is reported to have launched a dismissive broadside against this year’s crop of hopefuls, claiming that none of them stand a chance of emulating the success of One Direction.

Simon Cowell reckons that none of this year's 'X Factor' contestants can match 1D

Louis Walsh, a fellow judge on the ITV show, told The Sun newspaper: “the most successful group in the show's history is One Direction, and Simon said that what they did 'will never be repeated. I don't think anyone this year is capable of that, but I don't think anyone will do it again.’”

Continue reading: Simon Cowell Reckons One Direction's Success Won't Be Repeated

Wait, is it x factor time again? When did this happen? The mentors – this year’s lineup is Cheryl Cole, Mel B, Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh – got their respective categories on Friday. Unfortunately, not everyone was all too happy about the outcome.

Cheryl Cole loves her girls. No, that's not a pun.

Continue reading: Cheryl Cole Loves Her Girls - On The "X Factor" That Is

The latest series of the X Factor looks set to be the most epic one yet - if the first promo is anything to go by. While every year The X Factor judges battle it out on our television screens, Simon Cowell and co have gone one step further this year, by starring in a Game Of Thrones-inspired commercial.

The minute-long promo shows Cowell and the other judges lead individual armies of hopefuls into battle for the X Factor throne, ahead of the much-anticipated new series this Autumn.

X Factor judge Simon Cowell arrives at the London auditions of flagship ITV talent show

Continue reading: X Factor Judges Star In £1million 'Game Of Thrones Promo'

Two members of Rebecca Ferguson's family have been shot in a drive-by shooting in Everton. The singer is said to be "shocked and terrified" by a targeted attack that seriously injured her children's uncle and grandfather on Wednesday evening, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Rebecca Ferguson On-Stage in Liverpool

Karl Dures, 51 and his son Craig Dures, 27, were shot in the leg and face as they stood on the corner of Lance Close. Ms Ferguson - who rose to fame after appearing on The X-Factor - dated Karl's son, also called Karl, and had two children with him. The pair ended their relationship before Ferguson's appearance on the singing show, though the families have remained close.

Continue reading: Rebecca Ferguson's Family Members Shot In Drive-By Shooting

A hunchback villain character named Trevor Modo in Harry Hill's new X-Factor musical I Can't Sing! is apparently based on former champion James Arthur. In the show, Trevor auditions for the hit show to save himself from a life of poverty, but is sent packing by Nigel Harmon's Simon Cowell character.

James Arthur Has Reacted Angrily to the Claims

Seeking revenge, Trevor breaks into an impressive rap number about the injustice of the music industry. 

Continue reading: 'I Can't Sing!' Villain Trevor Modo Based On James Arthur?

Louis Walsh will launch his latest pop creation in 2014, with the Irish music mogul announcing his plans to oversee the launch of a new boyband in the new year. Speaking with The Mirror, the x factor judge said that he will be launching a band consisting entirely of new faces, having auditioned thousands of potential stars in the process.

Walsh will hope that his new boyband will be more successful than Union J

"I'm doing a brand new boy band that will be ready to go next year," Walsh told the paper. He continued, "They're going to rehearse for the month of January, see the record companies in February and take it from there. No familiar faces, all new kids that have never been on a talent show or anything. I auditioned a thousand!"

Continue reading: Louis Walsh Set To Launch All-New Boyband In 2014

Sam Bailey will no doubt still be reeling from her x factor final success and subsequent chart success with debut single 'Skyscraper.' Having won the talent show and scored the Christmas No. 1, the next task on Bailey's agenda is getting her debut album written and released, as the singer recently revealed that she is already set to hit the studio and start working on her first full-length.

'Skyscraper' became one of the year's biggest-selling sngles

Bailey's first LP will consist largely of cover versions of already-popular songs, which apparently infuriated her X Factor mentor Sharon Osbourne, but this is something that Sam isn't too bothered about. Rather than be bummed out by the lack of originality appearing on her album, Bailey instead said she was simply excited to be making music and happy that she gets to make an album in the first place, which is, refreshingly, the exact kind of outlook we'd have hoped from the everywoman.

Continue reading: Sam Bailey Plans To "Rush Release" Debut Album For Spring Release

Sam Bailey, the current joint-favourite to win this year's X-Factor competition, has hit back at critics who claim she shouldn't be allowed to compete on the show owing to her extensive musical experience.

The prison officer stunned judges Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh during her show-stopping auditions on Saturday and Sunday, though a report in The Sun newspaper claimed Sam had "misled the public" by appearing to be a novice with an exceptional gift for singing.

In fact, the newspaper claims Bailey has been singing for years in social clubs, on cruises and for charity shows - something they doesn't dispute - and shouldn't be allowed to compete against the likes of Tamera Foster, the young Beyonce-a-like who is likely to be her nearest rival.

Continue reading: Should Sam Bailey Be Allowed To Remain On The X-Factor?

Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards are engaged! Edwards' mother, Debbie Dufty, confirmed their engagement whilst speaking exclusively to a UK local paper (on Wednesday 21st August). Dufty told the newspaper that rumours of their engagement were true, declaring "it's official. I'm over the moon. They are really in love."

 
Zayn Malik at the premiere of This Is Us in London.

Edwards, who is a member of Little Mix, had decided not to make the announcement before the premiere of One Direction's This Is Us. The premiere took place on Tuesday evening in London. 

Continue reading: One Direction's Zayn Malik And Little Mix's Perrie Edwards Are Engaged!

One Direction's This Is Us, a documentary following the band's rise from X-Factor contestants to one of the biggest pop groups in the world. The documentary premiered in London on Tuesday (20th August) in Leicester Square, London. Screaming fans awaited One Direction and the other celebrity attendees.

One Direction from L-R: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne.

The band which consists of Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson; all attended the premiere and greeted fans of the red carpet. The band was formed in 2010 on The X-Factor's seventh season. The group are one of the most popular in the world and this was reflected in the turnout of fans at the premiere. Fans were so determined to see their music heroes that some camped out in Leicester Square the night before.

Continue reading: One Direction's "Unbelievable" And "Unreal" 'This Is Us' World Premiere [Pictures]

There are ways of saying no to doing something, then there are ways Charlotte Church says no to doing something. Her way involves violent imagery. We prefer her way. Check out how she said no to doing The X-Factor.

Charlotte Church performs at G.A.Y in London

“I got asked to do The X Factor job. I’d rather poke my eyes out with sticks than be a part of the machine that kills music,” she told Wales Online. “I had a meeting to ask about the level of involvement in the creative process I could have, and they basically said none unless it was in line with what was required.”

Continue reading: Charlotte Church Didn't Just Say No To The X-Factor, She Said NO!

TV talent show winners haven’t been so successful of late; think The X-Factor’s James Arthur and The Voice’s Leanne Mitchell. But Britain’s Got Talent Winners – Richard and Adam – have topped the U.K album charts following their third-place finish on Britain’s Got Talent.

In doing so, they beat another talent-show product, x factor runner-up Jahmene Douglas, off the top spot. Richard and Adam’s profile was raised somewhat when a woman ran on stage to throw eggs at Simon Cowell for his influence on the music business.

Their album - The Impossible Dream - features hearty renditions of The Power of Love, Unchained Melody, Amazing Grace and Ave Maria. "It's amazing - you've made our Nan extremely happy, so thank you to each and everyone of you who's bought the album," Adam told the Official Charts Company.

Continue reading: Richard And Adam Living The Impossible Dream After Britain's Got Talent

There’s a new boss in town, and this time it’s a woman. Sharon Osbourne has stamped all over the ‘head judge’ mug and now she’s taking the title for herself, as Gary Barlow admits to The Sun.

Gary Barlow concedes that Sharon is in charge of everything X-Factor

Barlow himself was brought in to replace Simon Cowell after he quit the show in 2010 to launch x factor USA. “There’s no question she’s the head judge. The mug – I can’t even find it. It’s gone. She has been in and stood on it. She’s the queen. She’s back.” He added: “It’s been brilliant having her back. It’s so good to have someone who has done so much TV work because she is totally at ease and she has brought out the worst in all of us!”

Continue reading: Gary Barlow Hails The New X-Factor Boss – Sharon Osbourne

One Direction star Harry Styles will be the best man at his mother Anne Cox's wedding on Saturday. Harry's mother, 43, is set to marry her long-term partner Robin Twist, who helped bring up the pop star after his parents split when he was seven year's old, reports the Daily Record.

It should be a star-studded day, with all the members of One Direction attending. Anne even picked the date to fit with the boy-band's hectic touring schedule and guests were told to keep the details of the nuptials firmly under wraps to avoid any unwanted press attention. However, it is thought the event may be held somewhere close to their home in the north-west.

Office worker Anne, who divorced Harry's father Des, has always supported her son's ambitions to be a singer and the pair are believed to enjoy a hugely close relationship. Harry and the boys were invited to stay at Anne's bungalow for a week as they prepared for the live x factor finals in 2010. Though she eventually finished third, the group has since gone on to become the most successful British boy-band of all time, topping the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Continue reading: Harry Styles To Be Best Man...At His Mother's Wedding

Simon Cowell has chosen his next two judges to sit beside him o the upcoming series of The X Factor; Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio. The two will take up the seats vacated by Britney Spears and LA Reid at the end of the last series of the show, with Demi Lovato slated to return to her post for the next instalment of the talent show.

Cowell has now revamped his judging panel for a second time following Spears and Reid's abandoning of the show at the end of last season. The first time Cowell redesigned the panel he booted off Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger after the first season when the show only managed a poor return on audience figures.

Kelly Rowland will sit next to Paulina Rubio next season

Continue reading: Kelly Rowland And Paulina Rubio Appointed As New Judges On The X Factor USA

Sharon Osbourne’s private life may well be in turmoil but she doesn’t seem to be allowing it to affect her career as the Daily Mail reports today that she’s reportedly landed a £2 million deal to return to x factor in the UK. If the reports are accurate, it will mean that not only will Osbourne return to the show, after leaving in 2007, but she will become the highest paid judge in the show’s history.

It is thought that the show’s creator, Simon Cowell, is ‘desperate’ to have Sharon return to the show to boost ratings, which have been steadily dropping in the last two years. Although Sharon has made a number of guest apperances on the show since she left – namely at Louis Walsh’s house in the ‘judges’ houses’ rounds, this will be the first time in six years that she’s actually been one of the official judges. Known for her no-nonsense approach, Cowell is clearly looking to shake up the line-up on the panel.

Recently, it has been reported that Sharon Osbourne’s marriage to husband Ozzy Osbourne (the Black Sabbath singer) is on the rocks. Ozzy made a public announcement that his addiction to drink and drugs has reared its head again and has taken its toll on their marriage. Regardless, both Sharon and Ozzy seem to remain focused on their careers, with Ozzy about to embark on a tour with Sabbath and Sharon apparently planning a return to the high profile TV show. 

Continue reading: £2 Million Salary - Has Sharon Osbourne Just Landed Record-Breaking X Factor Role?

Just 22 people turned up for a recent audition for X Factor, in Colchester, Essex. Whilst the show’s producers have their bag of plausible excuses ready, the rest of us are waiting in the wings, ready to announce the official decline of the already-ailing show. Does the low turn out of audition participants spell the end for the show though?

A report from the Daily Mirror suggests that The X Factor bods are none too worried about the low turnout, insisting that the ‘mobile auditions,’ in some of the UK’s smaller towns and cities were never expected to get as many participants as the bigger ones, anyway. “These 'mobile' auditions give people a chance from around the country who may not be able to get to the bigger auditions,” said a spokesperson for the show, after 22 people showed up for the Colchester auditions and 30 for Bangor, North Wales. “The X Factor is way bigger than it was when it first started and this is in no way indicative of a decline in popularity. For the mobile, the highest we have had was in Great Yarmouth and Hull, where we had about 100 people attending. The lowest was Colchester with only 22, so the numbers do vary from location to location. But applications are in the thousands and are strong and healthy this year."

Looks as though Cowell and co will have enough participants to gather a show together then. Maybe we should put that grim reaper outfit back in the wardrobe for now. Just for one more season. 

Continue reading: Can We Finally Announce The Decline Of X Factor? 22 People Show Up For Essex Audition

With Harry Hill at the helm of the script for The X Factor musical, it could have been a truly terrible concept if it weren't for his injection of intelligent comedy. Expeced to be a mocking parody of the show and its most iconic characters, Hill described the desired approach to the show as "at times scathing, without being cynical."

The story is about an 18 year old girl called Chenice who is completely oblivious to the X Factor due to her Grandfather's iron lung which blocks ITV's signals... that's as much as we know. However, one can assume that she stumbles into an audition, is either incredible or terrible and an adventure ensues. Sound about right? 

Managing director of Stage Entertainment UK, who are co-producing the play, Rebecca Quigley, said that it's going to be "quite a wacky big show." It will feature 19 new songs and recognizable personalities from the well loved series, including Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell, plus "others you might recognise, but who have different names." 

Continue reading: X Factor - It's Time To Face The Musical! Gets The £6m Go Ahead

Now magazine have issued an embarrassing apology, admitting they were wrong to publish claims that Cheryl Cole and MC Harvey were engaging in a secret relationship.

"Sorry Cheryl. There was no romance with Harvey - we got it wrong," reads its front cover apology, which carries on inside the mag. "Although we have seen several hundred emails, written over a six-month period, apparently between Cheryl, her mother and Michael, we are now satisfied that the emails from Cheryl and her mother are not genuine.” Cole took to twitter at the time, posting to HArvey: "Was this 'relationship' happening in your head @harveyofficial?! Are you smoking something?" Bemused, Michael Harvey Jr emailed back saying she’d been ringing him!

Continue reading: Now Magazine Say Sorry To Cheryl Cole Over MC Harvey Rumours

One of the by-products of winning the nation's biggest talent show isn't just the money or the chance to produce music on a huge scale, no, it's the droves of fans that will do anything just to touch your jacket.

That's what's happening to James Arthur, the popular Middlesbrough lad who 'came good' in 2012's version of the show. He's been explaining how all the female attention has affected his day-to-day life, saying he's often surrounded by fans when he goes out, and that he often urges them to leave him alone - and go home. "It freaks me out a little bit, yeah, there were loads of them singing 'Impossible' and I was like what? It's freezing cold, go home," he tells ITN. "I wouldn't say mobbed, I can handle myself."

It's not been a bad time for Mr Arthur since leaving The X-Factor a winner. His debut single reached the covered landmark of one million sales, which, according to Martin Talbot from the Official Charts Company, is great news for the starlet. "Hitting the million mark in around a month is a fantastic achievement for James Arthur. x factor winners often score strong first week sales but to push through to the million mark so quickly is truly impressive."