Yahoo News X Factor 2019: Everything you need to know
There was some uncertainly surrounding The X Factor's future last year when the singing contest suffered its lowest ratings in 14 years – traditionally a sign that the end is nigh.
But any doubt was brushed aside when it was announced that the show had been renewed by ITV after it managed to retain the crown of ITV's most-watched programme on a Saturday and Sunday night.
Related: The X Factor WILL return this year amid rumours
A significant portion of the 5.7 million viewers who watched the show on average were 16-34-year-olds, which will undoubtedly be a key focus for ITV going forwards as they plan the future of the long-running series.
But back to 2019 – the show is returning for a whopping 16th season, and while there's very little currently out there about what fans can expect, there are a few reports circulating which offer up some details about how this year's show will look.
X Factor 2019 format changes: What should we expect?
You may have heard the hoo-ha surrounding a big X Factor overhaul, but what does it all mean?
Simon Cowell has clarified that he's actually planning to air two special series of the show on ITV this autumn. The first will be the much-rumoured celebrity format (similar to 2006's one-off The X Factor: Battle of the Stars), which will be followed directly by another series featuring only all-star contestants from The X Factor's history.
"The time feels right, and it will be a huge change," Cowell told The Sun.
"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."
Related: What the hell is going on with The X Factor?
The X Factor underwent a rather dramatic makeover last year too. Not only was there a brand new judging panel, each judge was given a fancy new button called the 'Golden X', which allowed them to each send a contestant/group of their choosing straight through to Judges' Houses.
Boot Camp was scrapped in favour of sending hopefuls through to the judges' deliberation stage, where they would decide who would take part in the infamous Six Chair Challenge – and if that wasn't enough, the show went on holiday, holding auditions in both Tenerife and Benidorm.
It remains to be seen what will stay and what will go this year – the focus on the show's younger audience will certainly influence what Cowell and co choose to do. But one thing's for sure: it's bound to be dramatic.
X Factor 2019 start date: When will it return?
The X Factor has always premiered at the end of August or on the first Saturday of September, so it's highly likely that the 2019 series will follow the same pattern.
But with the judging panel and format still up in the air, it's hard to guess accurately.
X Factor 2019 judges: Who’s returning?
During an appearance on This Morning last year, Simon Cowell was asked whether he’d be bringing the same judges back for the 2019 show, to which he replied: "It will cost us a lot of money, but yes.
"It’s been an amazing year."
It seems that Cowell won't be getting his wish though, as Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field recently announced their decision to quit the show.
Posting a "quick update from Team Williams" on Instagram, they teased "some very big announcements coming soon".
However, due to their busy schedules, they explained that it would be "impossible to do everything" and so they would not be able to take part in the next series of The X Factor.
A post shared by Robbie Williams (@robbiewilliams) on Apr 11, 2019 at 9:55pm PDT
"We’re gutted to tell you we won’t be able to return to The X Factor this year," Robbie said as part of the statement on Instagram.
"We will, however, be working on projects with Simon going forward – and as huge fans of the show, we will still be tuning into The X Factor, voting and winding Simon up… x."
Related: The X Factor 2019 judges: Who will be on the panel?
Robbie previously said that his time on the show had been a blast, telling The Sun in November 2018: "Honestly, The X Factor has been my favourite thing that I've done in showbiz and a welcome break from the thing that I've been doing for the last 30 years."
As for Louis Tomlinson, who went full circle and returned to the ITV talent show as a judge in 2018, there's no official news just yet as to whether or not he'll be back.
The One Direction star has hinted that his X Factor future is uncertain though, revealing in a recent interview that it would be "kind of tempting" to quit anyway, since he'd already won with contestant Dalton Harris.
During the interview on Dan Wootton's podcast, Louis also said that he hadn't spoken to Simon since filming ending. "We're just kind of giving each other some space because we’d seen [each other] every single day," he explained.
On the subject of his return, Louis hinted that he wasn't totally convinced by the changing direction of the show.
He said: "To be honest, I don't really know what the tail end of my year looks like anyway, but personally, I think it's about the public, you know what I mean? I think it should be about the public."
X Factor 2019 guest judges: Who's on board?
There was an eclectic mix of guest judges on last year's show – Simon called on American Idol's Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, Robbie selected Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams, Ayda brought back former X Factor winner Leona Lewis and American Idol star Adam Lambert, and Louis called on his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne and legendary Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers to offer some insight.
But it's too early to know which famous faces will be helping the judges make the right call for the live shows this year (or whether this will even fit into the proposed new formats), so watch this space for updates.
X Factor 2019 host: Who will helm the show?
Dermot O'Leary is one of the things most associated with the singing competition, but back in 2015 there was collective surprise when the 45-year-old decided to leave the show after 8 years to pursue other projects.
Speaking to Event Magazine, the Mail on Sunday's celebrity and culture magazine, he said: "When you sign on to The X Factor, it takes nine months of your year. But at the end of every series, you were left not knowing if your contract was going to be renewed.
"I remember being in Austin, Texas, and still not having heard whether I was going to be doing The X Factor, which would have started in a matter of weeks.
"I made a call to ITV and was told I might be doing it but I might not."
And that's when he made the decision to walk away: "I'd done eight years there very successfully, and I thought, 'I'm not playing these games anymore'. So I called ITV and told them to count me out.
"Saying 'no' was the only power I had."
He continued: "The following day, I thought, 'Holy shit!', but I decided to do all the things I'd planned but never had the time for.
"I had an idea for a documentary, I had a couple of ideas for children's books I wanted to write, and I wanted to show myself I could live without The X Factor."
After being replaced by former X Factor contestant Olly Murs and Caroline Flack, Dermot returned to the show in 2016 and has remained at the helm ever since.
We'd be very surprised if he wasn't on board this time round.
X Factor 2019 auditions: How do I enter?
Applications are now open for The X Factor 2019.
If you're a group or solo singer and aged 16 or over, then you are eligible to take part.
Click here to audition in person or via video, and you have until 23.59 on June 28, 2019 to get involved – and who knows, it could be your lucky year.
According to the Irish Mirror, only a handful of people turned up to audition at a local shopping centre in Dublin, with the early morning queues from previous years failing to materialise.
The same was also said of Plymouth, according to Plymouth Live – but there are no official figures to back those claims up. So "pinch of salt" and all that.
X Factor 2018 winner: Who came out on top last year?
It was Jamaican singer Dalton Harris who won the talent contest last year, beating Scarlett Lee (who finished second) and Anthony Russell (who came third) to clinch the top prize.
The 25-year-old was mentored by Louis in The Boys category, and his winner's single, 'The Power of Love', which he sang alongside former X Factor winner James Arthur in the final, reached the number one spot in the official Vodafone Big Top 40 just seven days after winning the competition.
A post shared by Dalton Harris (@realdaltonharris) on Dec 10, 2018 at 4:44am PST
But it hasn't been entirely plain sailing for the singer, with Dalton revealing back in December that he might have to leave the UK and return to Jamaica because his visa only reportedly allowed him to remain in the UK for the duration of the show.
"I need to get a new visa. I will have to leave the UK for a bit as you’re not allowed to just stay forever," he told The Sun.
"Hopefully my visa will be sorted out quickly."
But thankfully, his visa was eventually reinstated.
#DaltonHarris returning to the UK in fine style 🇬🇧👌
A post shared by The Tropixs (@thetropixs) on Dec 25, 2018 at 1:27pm PST
Harris took part in The X Factor Live Tour, which kicked off on February 15.
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