X Factor comeback is cancelled by ITV as show boss Simon Cowell remains ‘incredibly keen’ to reboot show

ITV has decided against bringing back The X Factor for now, despite Simon Cowell being keen to revive the singing competition. The reported decision matters because the show was once a major Saturday night draw, but its former audience and format may no longer suit current television.

The programme ran for 15 series before ITV shelved it in 2018, and later had two spin-offs. An insider said the broadcaster believes it is too soon for a reboot, that shows of this kind no longer attract tens of millions of viewers, and that production was expensive; they also said the show’s duty-of-care arrangements would need a thorough overhaul.