‘The X Factor’s live Judges’ Houses were a change "too far", according to ITV’s director of comedy and entertainment.
Elaine Bedell has admitted producers attempts to keep the show fresh by having the judges decide what acts to take through to the next stage live on air didn’t work in the way they’d hoped.
Speaking at the Broadcast Commissioning Forum, she said: "We embarked on this series wanting some changes. This is one of the issues with long-running shows – you look to them constantly to think how they can be kept on their toes."
The original plan was to broadcast live from Simon Cowell, Nick Grimshaw, Rita Ora and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini’s Judges’ Houses around the world.
However, due to problems with logistics, they had to scrap the idea and instead filmed the acts performances and then had the judges decide who to take through to the Live Shows in front of a live audience in London.
Bedell continued: "Possibly with ‘The X Factor’ we went too far with the mix of live TV in the Judges’ Houses episode.
"Universally on the production side we felt that it wasn’t successful, but now we are back to the live shows that we know and love."
She also claimed she’s confident the show will have a "good run" for the rest of the series but failed to comment on whether or not it will return next year.
Although both ‘The X Factor’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ have another series left on their contract with ITV there’s been talk of axing ‘The X Factor’ next year.
Bedell added: "We have a longstanding relationship with Syco and Fremantle which has served us very well."
‘The X Factor’ continues tomorrow (07.11.15) at 8pm on ITV.
The X Factor: Live Judges’ Houses a change ‘too far’
