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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.
In short
- ITV has ruled out an X Factor return for now.
- Simon Cowell remains keen to revive the show.
- Costs, audience changes and welfare concerns are cited.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Reviving The X Factor could draw on its established name, loyal fans and history as a major Saturday-night event, giving ITV a chance to create a distinctive, widely shared entertainment show. If the format and contestant support were modernised, a reboot might reach viewers who miss the programme while addressing concerns about care and production standards.
The case against
ITV can reasonably conclude that a costly reboot is a poor fit if today’s audiences are less likely to gather around this kind of programme and the former scale of viewership is unlikely to return. The format would also require a thorough review of contestant care, adding work and expense without assurance that nostalgia would translate into lasting ratings.