The past several series of The X Factor have struggled to pull in the viewing figures as the show struggles to hit upon the perfect formula for success once again. The constant change of format and judging line-up have made viewers turn off in their droves.
Back in 2008, 2009 and 2010 the ITV talent contest was the flagship programme of Saturday night, enjoying excess of 15 million viewers each episode with the 2009 final seeing an incredible 20 million people tuning in. But since then the X Factor has dropped to less than 5 million viewers with it regularly losing out to its rivals in the final viewing figures.
So it’s no surprise that show boss Simon Cowell is once again looking to make changes ahead of the 2018 season. Cowell has been struggling to find the best judging line-up since the 2008, 2009, and 2010 panel of himself, Cheryl, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue enjoyed huge ratings. Back in 2014 Cheryl returned to the show alongside, Cowell, Louis Walsh and Mel B and although viewing figures went up it still wasn’t enough to convince the audience that this was the best line-up available. So 2015 saw Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora replace Mel B and Louis Walsh. This panel saw rating go up again and fans enjoyed the easy banter between the four judges.
But in 2016 it was all change again as Cheryl, Grimshaw and Ora all departed. The Geordie superstar who last year became a mother for the first time, returned for a guest slot on the 2017 series helping pal Simon at Judges Houses. And it now looks like Chezza is set for a permanent return later this year.
The hitmaker who last released an album back in 2014, the top-ten hit ‘Only Human’, has been in studio recording new music and is set to make her pop comeback at the end of the year. And it seems her return to the spotlight will also include a role as a judge on the 2018 series of the X Factor.
Speaking to the Metro newspaper, X Factor host Dermot O’Leary said of Cheryl’s possible return “Cheryl’s going to come back.”
Are you excited that Cheryl is set to return as a judge on the X Factor this year? What would be your dream panel? Let us know your thoughts over on Twitter @CelebMix.