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'Walk The Line' viewers left confused by new Simon Cowell talent show

From Lifted Entertainment and Syco 

Walk The Line on ITV and ITV Hub

Pictured: Craig David, Alesha Dixon, Maya Jama, Dawn French and Gary Barlow.

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.  This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms

For further information please contact:
james.hilder@itv.com / 0207 157 3052n
Walk The Line confused viewers. (ITV)

Simon Cowell's new singing contest Walk The Line left viewers scratching their heads in confusion when it launched on Sunday night.

The ITV series fronted by Maya Jama and judged by Gary Barlow, Alesha Dixon, Dawn French and Craig David began on Sunday night, but its format and casting choices confused many of those tuning in.

Read more: All you need to know about Walk The Line

It has been designed by Cowell as a replacement for The X Factor which ITV has announced will not be making a return any time soon, although the music boss does not actually appear on screen.

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Thursday 2nd December 2021

From Lifted Entertainment and Syco 

Walk The Line on ITV and ITV Hub

Pictured: Dawn French.

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.  This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms

For further information please contact:
james.hilder@itv.com / 0207 157 3052n
Some viewers questioned why Dawn French was a judge. (ITV)

Acts compete each episode to be voted as the top performances of the night, but are not told what position they are in and then must choose whether to walk away with a cash prize, or gamble it on being picked as the viewers' favourite which would put them through to the next night's episode, with the chance of winning £500,000 in Friday's final.

However, the complicated rules were difficult to follow for some viewers, who thought the show had a flaw in its format.

One person tweeted: "Am I missing something? If the audience decide then what's the point of the judging panel?"

Someone else wrote: "Am I the only one confused. So an act on Sunday has to win every show to get to Friday and win 500k. But an act which wins on Friday can steal and win it?"

Another viewer agreed: "So if you perform on the first night, your chance of winning the £500k are significantly reduced, weird unfair show concept."

Others were confused about the choice of comedian Dawn French as one of the singing contest judges.

Someone tweeted: "Love Dawn French, very funny lady, but why is she a judge on a singing competition."

Another person asked: "I love Dawn French but why is she on the judges panel? It's like when Jo Brand was a judge on that Splash diving competition ffs."

Read more: I'm A Celeb crowns Danny Miller King of the Castle

Other viewers simply didn't like the new show and complained that the style of programme felt outdated.

A viewer tweeted: "ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL PROGRAMME! 'JUDGES' too afraid to be honest.. Dawn French is too nice, the singers cant actually sing & production is STILL trying the sob story angle. This type of 'talent' show had its day a over a decade ago.. Just bury it already."

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Thursday 2nd December 2021

From Lifted Entertainment and Syco 

Walk The Line on ITV and ITV Hub

Pictured: Gary Barlow.

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.  This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms

For further information please contact:
james.hilder@itv.com / 0207 157 3052n
Gary Barlow heads up the judging panel. (ITV)

Someone else called it "A Poundland version of the X Factor," while another person commented: "So … #walktheline … it’s really a remake of the X Factor, then?!"

Another viewer wrote: "Choosing the same boring songs to sing. Singing shows have had their day. This doesn't work."

Referring to the prime minister's public address on COVID vaccines just before Walk The Line started, one viewer tweeted: "I thought Boris Johnson's address to the nation was going to be the worse thing on TV tonight ... Then I saw 10 minutes of #WalkTheLine."

Watch: Craig David wants to 'empower' Walk The Line contestants