The X Factor 2016: David Bowie And Prince To Be ‘Honoured’ With Themed Weeks

Simon Cowell is planning to “honour” David Bowie and Prince with themed weeks on The X Factor 2016.

The late music icons – who both sadly passed away earlier this year – will be remembered during the competition’s live shows as the remaining contestants attempt to take on some of their songs in a bid to stay in the competition.

Returning judge Louis Walsh is reportedly the mastermind behind the campaign to pay tribute to Bowie, 69, who died in January after a secret cancer battle, and Prince, 57, who passed away in April from an accidental fentanyl overdose.

“Simon Cowell is a big fan of Bowie and has never held back his admiration for him,” a source told The Sun. “But it’s actually Louis who has been pushing this. He thinks it would be a fitting tribute to both Prince and David who both sadly left us this year.

“Also, both have a huge repertoire of hits so it’ll give the contestants a wide range of songs to choose from. There’s upbeat stuff and big ballads they can belt out too so it’ll be fair on everyone.”

However, since the live shows aren’t expected until some time in October, the source also warned that nothing had been “set in stone” yet.

Copyright [Syco/Thames/Dymond]

The new series of The X Factor launches in three weeks time with a reprised judging panel - featuring Simon, Louis, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger - as well as new Xtra Factor presenters Matt Edmondson and Rylan Clark-Neal.

Dermot O’Leary will also be returning to host the main show in a bid to boost ratings after his replacements, Olly Murs and Caroline Flack, failed to impress audiences last year.

The BBC Radio 2 presenter, who recently appeared on This Morning, shared additional details about the upcoming series. He explained: “Most people have said, ‘Let’s try and get back to our basics.’

“This show is a celebration of Great British eccentrics and then when we get to the end in the studio, we have eight great voices and three or four characters and the public decide. It’s that simple.“

The X Factor is expected to return to ITV1 on August 27.