According to The Mirror, Simon Cowell’s planned X Factor All Stars has been axed in favor of an X Factor version featuring bands. It’s rumored that Simon could not lure enough big stars to compete on the series. Leona Lewis is among those believes to have backed out of the competition. Former American Idol judge, Paula Abdul was set for the panel.
The website claims Simon cancelled his 60th birthday party amid chaotic meetings. He flew in his “closest confidants” for advice and allegedly sacked “six staff in a week” as he worked to “save the brand.”
Meanwhile, The X Factor: Celebrity series drew its lowest ratings yet at 3.1 million viewers. And reportedly, he has yet to sign a new contract with ITV for X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent for next year.
A TV source claimed: “Cowell did not have a happy birthday and this is now a real crisis for the show. He has struggled to get anyone to take part in All Stars.”
On Monday, Simon revealed his plans for X Factor: The Band. It’s being rushed out of the gate to premiere before a similar show begins on BBC featuring Little Mix. Simon created the popular girl group for X Factor season 8 in 2011. Simon signed the group to his SYCO label. But they eventually split after relations soured.
Simon’s camp insists he’s not freaking out. “Simon has really rolled his sleeves up and is determined to make both the current series and X Factor: The Band a big success. He is more focused on work than he has been in years,” said a source.
“All Stars has been postponed until 2020, it wasn’t cancelled because of a lack of big acts. “The new contract with ITV has not been formally signed But there are only a few minor details being finalised.”
About the new Band show, Simon told the Sun: “K-Pop is ruling the world. This is a show to find a band to launch UK-Pop. It’s more than winning a record contract, it’s starting a new music wave.
“Every group will be put together by us — just like One Direction, Little Mix and Fifth Harmony. It’s people who represent Britain’s version of K-Pop. That was always our plan. We’ve just brought it forward a bit.”
Simon told The Sun that his idea for a competition for bands came before Little Mix’s project. He claims to be excited for the competition with his former protegees. “It 100% makes it more exciting there being a battle,” he said.
Simon insists a new contract is days away. He said: “There is every possibility next year there could be three X Factor shows — Celebrity, All Stars and another group show.
“The important thing about why ITV is supporting us is that it’s the young people watching us. The 16 to 34 viewership on X Factor Celebrity is enormous — even bigger than Love Island.
“ITV are thrilled. There’s a lot of confidence back in the format now.”
Simon appears to be flailing. He should shelve the brand for a year or two. Give audiences an opportunity to miss it, and then bring back the original format. The Celebrity format ruins the original premise–kicking of music careers with fresh new talent. And as far as all-stars are concerned. Only acts looking for their next 15 minutes would be interested. It’s a format that brings an air of failure with it.
