It is coming up to that time of year again – yes, X Factor is back on our screens this Saturday and Sunday night at 8pm. But at the launch of the show at a press event in London today, Sharon and Simon were absent.
Their absence has led people to question if the show is already in crisis. Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger were the only judges to attend the event. Xtra Factor hosts Rylan Clark, Matt Edmondson and Roman Kemp also attended the launch.
Simon Cowell said that his absence was because he was focusing his attention on one of his many other shows, America’s Got Talent.
Sharon Osbourne also had ‘filming commitments’ – meaning that she couldn’t attend the event.
Judge Nicole Scherzinger showed up to the event in a short blue dress that showed off her figure. In the past, Nicole has been one of the few judges who has had two of their acts in the final – with Jahmene Douglas and James Arthur.
X Factor veteran Louis Walsh is also back for another series! The judging line up this year is extremely different to last year – with Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora quitting after just one series, and Cheryl Fernandez Versini bowing out as well.
Last year, viewing figures for the show were extremely low, and the Winner’s Single (Louisa Johnson’s ‘Forever Young’), which would normally take the Christmas Number 1 position, had sales of only 39,000 copies.
In the run up to Saturday night, when the show makes its return to ITV, The X Factor have released a series of clips, with one contestant singing to his own song ‘Friday Night’ – which ended up with Nicole dancing on the desk!
Are you excited about The X Factor’s return this year? What do you make of Sharon and Simon’s absence from the launch event? Make sure you tweet us your thoughts: @CelebMix.