Simon Cowell has confirmed there will be two series of ‘The X Factor’ this year.
The music mogul – who launched the ITV singing competition in 2004 – has opened up about the future of the show after it was reported it would be undergoing drastic changes in 2019, including claims it would be axed in favour of a celebrity edition.
Responding to the speculation, Simon told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: "I want to clear up any myths — because I’ve got some exciting news. I’ve had a meeting with ITV, I’ve told them what I think we’d like to do with ‘X Factor’ because we’ve been waiting to have this opportunity.
"The time feels right, and it will be a huge change. We haven’t exactly confirmed the dates or the order of the shows, but essentially there are going to be two versions of X Factor running this year.
"I think it’s going to be huge, it’s the best I’ve felt about this show in years."
Simon, 59, revealed the overhaul will result in both a celebrity version, and an all-star edition with past contestants, but insisted no deal has been signed yet as his team and ITV figure out the details for new five-year contracts.
Opening up on the challenges, he joked: "It runs for bloody months. No other show can run for months, it’s like putting on a soap opera every year, so that’s what we’ve got to work out, but I’ve got a plan."
"Now we’ve just got to get the dates sorted. But don’t give too much away, I don’t want my competitors to know."
The show’s boss also opened up on the potential panel for the new formats, and said he is hopeful last year’s judges – Louis Tomlinson, Robbie Williams and Ayda Field – will be back.
He said: "I think and hope the panel will be the same. I’m literally speaking to Robbie tonight because he’s been busy, I’ve been filming, so I’ll have more news again on that soon."
Simon Cowell confirms two X Factor’s for 2019
