Louis Tomlinson seems to have confirmed that he is at the forefront of Simon Cowell’s mind as Cowell looks for a way to save the X-Factor . One Direction star Louis said last night that he is keen to replace Harry Styles’ BFF Nick Grimshaw on the failing show. Fans need no reminding that Louis and One Direction came to prominence when they were brought together during the 2010 season of Cowell’s talent show. Since then, Tomlinson and his bandmates have gone on to conquer the world of pop music, and Louis and his pals have become some of the best known stars in the world.
Louis Tomlinson & Liam Payne hit the #BRITs2016 (PHOTOS): https://t.co/9lNcrilzYZ #BRITVIDONEDIRECTION pic.twitter.com/7D13JhyyUg
— Hollywood Reporter Style (@thrstyle) February 25, 2016
Tomlinson and bandmate Liam Payne were attending last night’s Brit Awards ceremony in London when Louis spoke to the Sun. The U.K. tabloid reported that Tomlinson said he was looking forward to the possibility of taking over from Grimshaw.
“Of course, it’s really exciting. We’ve had no official conversation yet. But yeah, I mean, why wouldn’t I?”
Tomlinson’s fans will remember that the 24-year-old One Direction star joined Simon Cowell during the Judges’ Houses round of last year’s season of the struggling show. Louis admitted he has “relentlessly nagged” Simon Cowell for a role on the show, and Cowell will be desperate to land Tomlinson for a lead role in a show that just suffered the biggest ratings meltdown in its history.
It is entirely understandable that Tomlinson would relish the opportunity to launch a TV career. Louis will doubtless feel that he owes a lot to X-Factor; without the show, it is unlikely that he would be where he is now. Cowell will recognize that Tomlinson would be a huge draw and may hope that Louis could be the key to reviving the fortunes of a show that is fast dropping out of sight.
@Louis_Tomlinson @Real_Liam_Payne looking sharp last night boys #SmallzyLIVEfromLondon ?? pic.twitter.com/tFcAzOpqGK
— Smallzy ? (@Smallzy) February 25, 2016
Last year’s U.K. X-Factor final drew an audience that was less that one-third of the size of the one that watched Tomlinson and One Direction reach the final in 2010. The Mirror claims that Tomlinson was one of the few successes on last year’s show, and Cowell has blamed Grimshaw, along with presenters Caroline Flack and Olly Murs, for the show’s inexorable slide towards ignominy.
Tomlinson’s fondness for X-Factor and sense of loyalty to the show make it easy to understand that he would want to help to save it. The problem is that even Tomlinson’s involvement is unlikely to be able to save a show that the public in the U.K. have simply fallen out of love with. As a result, Louis signing up could easily prove to be a very bad career move.
OMG! Louis Tomlinson is ‘very likely’ to replace Grimmy on The X Factor and we are… https://t.co/11QZ8veWTJ pic.twitter.com/u5KU0oowHU
— Maximum Pop! (@maximumpop) February 21, 2016
It would seem that X-Factor is enduring a death of 1,000 cuts. Whilst the show will once again be on its ITV home, the TV franchise has dumped Cowell for The Voice for 2017. This leaves Cowell struggling to find a new home for X-Factor, with Channel 5 being its most likely destination. The channel’s viewing figures are appallingly low, and even Louis Tomlinson’s involvement is unlikely to change that. The Guardian reports that the return of The X-Files gave Channel 5 its best viewing figures in seven years at a disappointing 3.25 million. Ratings in that region would probably make X-Factor unsustainable.
There is an even bigger issue that Tomlinson should consider. If Louis were to accept a role on X-Factor, it would mean that Simon Cowell will still have a role in Tomlinson’s career. Cowell may still be a big name in the entertainment business, but fans of Louis and One Direction despise him.
Many of Louis’ fans believe that Cowell and the rest of One Direction’s management team have exploited Tomlinson and his pals to make huge fortunes for themselves. The music business is notoriously exploitative of young acts desperate to be signed by a label, and Cowell has a reputation for enforcing contracts that are less favorable to artists than most. Remember that Tomlinson was just 18, and he was the oldest member of One Direction when he was signed by Syco.
Louis’ fans are desperate to see Tomlinson and the rest of One Direction follow Harry Styles by breaking free of Cowell and the rest of their current management team. If Louis does decide to join X-Factor , it is unlikely that he will be out of Cowell’s influence, and that is something Tomlinson’s fans do not want to see.
[Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP]
