Double auditions – overkill?
‘X Factor’ supersize weekends: Is it overkill?
Producer A: “The ratings are falling, what on earth shall we do?” Producer B: “Let’s make more of it.”
The logic behind The X Factor’s expansion to Saturdays and Sundays for its entire run in 2013 isn’t exactly clear. Out of the long list of complaints about last year’s series – dour judges, underwhelming finalists, Rylan – I don’t ever remember anyone complaining that they could do with a whole extra round of auditions. The return to intimate audition rooms was a wise move (even if it came a couple of years too late), but the producers and Cowell evidently weren’t confident in the format change and have kept the arena auditions as an extra second round.
Airing on Sundays after the Saturday show, you now get double your X Factor for your buck. You can gorge yourself silly on the X Factor buffet on Saturday night, feasting on the weird and wonderful acts, the saccharine sob stories and Sharon Osbourne’s cackling. And then, just when you think it’s all over, out comes the dessert course on Sunday.
Read more: Digital Spy
‘X Factor’ 2013: Reviews round-up
At the weekend, The X Factor returned for the start of its tenth anniversary run with a super-sized double-header.
Our own Alex Fletcher described the return as “a hit-and-miss affair. He welcomed the return of both the intimate audition room and the “refreshingly honest and candid” Sharon Osbourne but was left sighing by the “predictable” backstories and “extra helping of eggyness” with the two-day format. But what did the rest of the critical landscape make of it?
Below, Digital Spy rounds up the reviews over the weekend of The X Factor’s 2013 return.
Read more: Digital Spy
15 Glorious Moments From The Return Of ‘X Factor’
Cancel all your weekend plans for the rest of the year. It’s time to face the music.
Read more: BuzzFeed
‘X Factor’ first Sunday show rises to 9.2 million on ITV
The X Factor climbed in the ratings for its first Sunday show on ITV, according to overnight data. The talent show’s second episode of the series climbed by almost 500,000 viewers from the previous night to 9.21 million (36.2%) at 8pm. A further 729k (3.0%) tuned in on +1.
Read more: Digital Spy
EXCLUSIVE: Liam Payne’s friend ‘rushed to hospital after fire breaks out on One Direction star’s balcony following horror accident’
Liam Payne’s friend has been rushed to hospital after a horrific accident at the One Direction star’s apartment led to a blaze breaking out and setting him on fire. The two boys were at Liam’s apartment on Monday night when the boy in question reportedly tried to re-fuel an outside heater on the terrace of the flat.
A source told the MailOnline that they fell into trouble when something went wrong with the heater and it set on fire, in turn setting Liam’s friend on fire and the entire balcony.
Read more: Daily Mail
One Direction’s Liam Payne hailed a hero for saving friend burned in fire at his home by ‘beating out flames and dousing him with water’
Liam Payne from One Direction has been hailed a hero after saving his childhood friend from an explosive fire at his penthouse flat in east London on Monday night.
Andy Samuel, who had been marking the boyband star’s 20th birthday at the singer’s apartment, was left with superficial burns to his face after being engulfed by flames when a heater on the balcony exploded. But Andy’s stepfather Matthew Baker has revealed just how narrowly his son avoided further injury, and praised Liam for his quick thinking and brave actions.
Read more: Daily Mail
One Direction fragrance set to net boys £360k in its first WEEK as fans desperate to douse themselves in eau de 1D
It seems the One Direction boys have another hit on their hands. But it’s their perfume that’s setting the tills ringing this time, Their scent, Our Moment, launched at Harrods on August 25 and is set to earn the boys over £360,000 in its first week on sale in the UK, according to beauty and fragrance experts. The six-figure sum is calculated from pre-orders plus sales of over 3,000 bottles at Harrods in London in just two days.
Read more: Daily Mail
Making the most of it! Niall Horan enjoys a peaceful round of golf with his family… two weeks before One Direction tour Australia
They’re currently enjoying a well-earned break before jetting off to Australia for the final leg of their Take Me Home world tour.
And with the One Direction boys making the most of their time off, Niall Horan headed for the putting green for a relaxing round of golf. The 19-year-old singer was spotted making his way towards a London golf course with a large bag of clubs slung over one shoulder.
Read more: Daily Mail
At least she looks the part: Cher Lloyd gets dolled up to shoot new video in a less than glamorous Los Angeles carpark
She’s on a mission to crack the states with her catchy tunes and Cher Lloyd seems to be loving her time in Los Angeles, choosing to shoot her new music video in the sunny climes. The 20-year-old was spotted enjoying a quick break as she shot scenes for the video for new single I Wish. As well as sneaking in a cigarette and a sip or two of Red Bull, Cher kept her energy levels up with a quick smooch from her ever present fiancé Craig Monk.
Read more: Daily Mail
‘Be a d**k’: Simon Cowell tells Nigel Harman to portray him accurately in the X Factor musical
Simon Cowell has told Nigel Harman to “be a d**k” to portray him accurately in I Can’t Sing! The former EastEnders actor will play the 53-year-old music mogul in the upcoming X Factor musical. And while Simon has tried not to get involved in the content of the production, he believes the Downton Abbey star should act like a fool to ensure his portrayal is true to life.
Read more: Daily Mail
‘X Factor’: The Musical – A sneak peek at its funniest lyrics
“Please Simon, I won’t give up I’ll keep trying, every single member of my family is dying.”
Sob stories are to the X Factor what high-waisted trousers are to Simon Cowell. Always there and mildly disturbing.
“Please Simon, this is a talent I’ve mastered, what gives you the right to sit there and judge me, you bastard?”
Brings back fond memories of Ablisa. *Sigh*.
“Please Simon, I’m not like ordinary men. Please Simon, I fear I might kill again.” There have been multiple X Factor contestants over the years who we can imagine having actual skeletons in their closet.
“Please Simon, please, we’re begging sweet Jesus, Simon, please, oh Simon, please. Simon make me rich, don’t be so useless, bitch!”
Oh come on now, Simon clearly has his uses…
Read more: Digital Spy
What crisis? Nicole Appleton is all smiles as she prepares for new X Factor role
Her husband may just fathered a love child with another woman, but Nicole Appleton was all smiles as it was revealed she is to join The X Factor.
The 38-year-old singer looked exited to join Louis Walsh for the ‘Judge’s Houses’ stage in France, where she’ll help the Irish music manager decide his group of contestants for the live shows.
Despite her recent heartache, Nicole looked glowing and ready to take on the X Factor adventure.
Read more: Daily Mail
Work will take her mind off it! Nicole Appleton puts marriage woes aside to join fellow X Factor mentors Shane Filan and Sinitta at airport
She’s been through a big share of emotional turmoil recently at the hands of her husbands reported infidelities.
But it seems like work is the tonic for former AllSaints singer Nicole Appleton as she brushes her woes off to concentrate on working on this year’s The X Factor.
She has been enlisted this year to act as one of the star mentors which help the judges out in choosing which contestants to go through to the live rounds.
Read more: Daily Mail
‘Kiss my shoes or I will beat you up!’ What X Factor star who boasted about smoking marijuana told teenager before attacking her
An X Factor star apologised last night after allegedly telling a teenager to ‘Kiss my shoes or I will beat you up’ before attacking her.
Tamera Foster, 16, of Gravesend, Kent, who has already been told off by TV bosses after it emerged she had boasted online about smoking marijuana, got a police caution for attacking Holly Wilks, 15.
Tamera – whom judge Louis Walsh said has more potential than Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke – was questioned by officers over the assault after a row on a train in Kent on Boxing Day last year.
Read more: Daily Mail
Union J “Union J” (Official Album Cover)
“Union J” is the upcoming self-titled debut studio album by English boy band Union J. The album is scheduled for release on digital retailers on 28 October, 2013 via Sony Music Entertainment, RCA Records. It comes preceded by the lead single “Carry You” and the second single “Beautiful Life” that’s scheduled for release on 21 October. Still not confirmed tracklist.
Read more: Josep Vinaixa
Union J confirmed new single “Beautiful Life”
“Beautiful Life” is a song recorded by English boy band Union J. The track is confirmed as the second single taken from their awaited debut self-titled studio album “Union J“, that’s scheduled for release on digital retailers on October 28, 2013 via Sony Music Entertainment, RCA Records. This new single comes after getting placed at number 6 their debut single “Carry You“, released in early June. This new single will be released on October 21 and whose official music video will premiere next week on VEVO.
Read more: Josep Vinaixa
James Arthur “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You” (Single Preview)
“You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You” is a song recorded by British singer and musician James Arthur, who won the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012. The track is the follow-up of his first single “Impossible“, released after the final and debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart in its first week of release. It has since gone on to sell over 1.3 million copies, making it the best-selling The X Factor winner’s single of all time. The new track is scheduled for release in 27 October and is the lead single taken from his upcoming debut studio album that’s scheduled for release in November via Syco / Sony Music.
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Read more: Josep Vinaixa