‘X Factor’ Gets Beat By ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Despite Changes Made By Simon Cowell
The X Factor may be worried about their ratings this past weekend. The show got crushed in their annual ratings war by the BBC’s launch of Strictly Come Dancing.
While peaking at 9 million, an average of 7.6 million viewers tuned in to the 12th series of The X Factor. This translates to about 32.8 percent viewership. These figures are down from an average of 8.9 million viewers the same weekend the year before.
This is despite the new judges, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw, making their appearance on X Factor’s judging panel.
Meanwhile, in direct competition with ITV 1’s biggest show The X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing took 41.7 percent audience share with 8.7 million viewers. At the peak, 9.7 million people were watching this year’s celebrities paired up with their dancing partners.
In response, an unnamed source from Strictly Come Dancing said, “Everyone is delighted that Strictly has had its highest ratings for a launch show since 2006.”
The source went on to say, “we absolutely aren’t going to rest on our laurels though, and everyone is now working hard to get ready for the live shows at the end of the month.”
The X Factor bringing in pop star Rita Ora and Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw was an attempt to attract a younger audience to the show. The Express reports The X Factor changing the judge lineup did not help the show as hoped.
X Factor fans seem disappointed by the changes.
@CherylOfficial @RitaOra and @grimmers on the #XFactor? Surely Simon is punking the entire UK with this train wreck of a panel?
— Sam Neuch (@sam_neuch) June 16, 2015
Despite Simon Cowell’s earlier predictions that this year’s ratings will be better than ever, this news brings some concern from X Factor execs, but they are far from giving up.
The Mirror reports The X Factor producer, Simon Cowell, has been suggesting that he wants One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson to help win the ratings war. Replacing Sinitta at the judges’ houses stage, show execs are betting Louis will bring in more viewers.
Recently, Simon Cowell hinted at the possibility of bringing Louis Tomlinson to The X Factor by saying, “I think Louis might be on one of the shows.”
In a recent report from The Inquisitr, X Factor’s producer did, in fact, invite Tomlinson to appear in an upcoming episode. Louis however, refuses to confirm any rumors of an X Factor appearance by saying he “wouldn’t have time.”
Whether or not Louis Tomlinson actually makes an appearance on The X Factor is yet to be seen.
Although The X Factor may be slipping in the ratings war, the show still remains one of the most popular shows ever. Simon Cowell and the people behind The X Factor know how to bring what their audiences want and will more than likely be back on top. Being crushed by Strictly Come Dancing this past weekend is a temporary setback to The X Factor, but not one that will keep them down for long.
[Photos courtesy: Getty Images and ITV]
