At last, the BBC see sense

Source: UK Game Shows

In many households it is the same argument on a Saturday night. Do we watch Strictly or The X Factor? So I was refreshed to read that the BBC are to change the schedules at the end of the month in a hope of combating the Strictly Come Dancing/X Factor ratings battle.

At the present time, Strictly starts at around 7:00 and runs for two hours. ITV1 have scheduled The X Factor for the past few weeks at 8:00 in a two hour timeslot. This has meant that viewers have been torn between the two shows that top the ratings every week.

Simon Cowell blasted the BBC for it’s awful scheduling last month and called for ITV to move The X Factor to a later time. However it was not enough and an overlap of over an hour between the two shows has dented ratings and affected Strictly more than its ITV rival.

Source: Mirror

The X Factor has been winning the ratings battle for the past five weeks since Strictly began. Last Saturday the ITV1 show pulled in around 11 million viewers with Strictly averaging around 8 million.

Ratings for Strictly have not been as high this year as they have in previous years but nobody can deny that by todays standards, eight million is a significant figure. The only shows rated higher are Coronation Street, EastEnders and the odd episode of New Tricks and Doc Martin.

The move made by the BBC will reduce the overlap to 45 minutes, with Strictly starting at 6:50 pm. But will it be enough? Will Strictly’s rating increase or decline? And what will happen to Merlin? One thing is for sure, no matter how compulsive the two shows are on a Saturday night and with Strictly being my favourite, I still put my money on The X Factor as being the highest rated show on a Saturday (and Sunday) night!

Cheryl set for solo success

Cheryl Cole’s solo career has certainly taken off with her single ‘Fight For This Love’ destined to be the fastest selling single of 2009.

Her single was released on Monday and after her incredible performance on The X Factor on Sunday, Simon Cowell predicted that she was going to be number one this Sunday.

The top spot currently belongs to Alexandra Burke whose single ‘Bad Boys’ became the fastest selling single of 2009 last week. But Burke’s former X Factor mentor is hot on her tail. Cheryl’s single sold more copies in one day than Alexandra’s did on the previous Monday.

So, will Cheryl take the top spot this weekend? I think the answer everyone will give is yes.

Below is Cheryl’s show stopping performance on The X Factor.

Cheryl pulls off a better performance than Whitney!

Everyone knows that Whitney Houston is a hard act to follow but tonights episode of The X Factor proved that it can be done. But who would have thought that after a week of speculation and nerves, Cheryl Cole gave a mind blowing performance and to top it all off sang live!

Cheryl pulls off a remarkable performance. Source: What's On TV

Cheryl’s single ‘Fight For This Love’ is out tomorrow and tonight’s show was going to be the first time she had performed it in front of a live audience (and about 12 million people). From the start of the show everyone could tell that she was probably more nervous than the contestants who actually had something to worry about. One of them was not going to make it through to the next show. Tonight it was actually one of Cheryl’s acts, Rikki Loney and not the terrible twins, John and Edward!

I also think that everyone could understand why she was so nervous. She had one of the worlds greatest singers on the stage after her. With the stage set and a commercial break for a quick costume change, Cheryl was on. I was really hoping that she would sing live and pull off a show stopping performance, and she did. I am not just saying this because I happen to like Cheryl a lot, she really was incredible and even Simon Cowell agreed. I think Dannii did as well.

Her performance not only focused on her singing but her dance moved and she can certainly move. Her outfit did not leave much to the imagination and the crowd went mad, including Simon and Dannii when she performed her dance routine at the end.

Whitney is outshone by Cheryl. Source: UBNation

Girls Aloud were in the audience as was hubby Ashley. They all looked extremely proud. She certainly set the standard for the night, only for it to surprisingly be lowered by Whitney.

I never, in a million years thought that I would say this, but Whitney’s performance was not as good as I had expected. There is no doubt that she has an amazing voice, but it echoed Britney Spears’ performance last year. It almost seemed as though she did not want to be there. Not only was her performance disappointing, a wardrobe malfunction also meant that we nearly saw more of Miss Houston than we expected.

Nevertheless, the crowd did go mad when she finished as did Simon, Cheryl and Dannii. But I have to say the real star of the show was Cheryl and she deserved it!

The X Factor: The Final Twelve

It’s the moment millions have been waiting for. Finding out who is going through to the live shows of ITV1′s The X Factor.

With tough decision making very much taking place around the world, Simon, Cheryl, Louis and Dannii have just revealed their final three acts. Here is a list of them below.

Simon Cowell: The Over 25′s

• Danyl Johnson
  

• Olly Murs
  

• Jamie Archer

Cheryl Cole: The Boys

• Rikki Loney

• Lloyd Daniels

• Joseph McElderry

Louis Walsh: The Groups

• Miss Frank

• Kandy Rain

• John and Edward Grimes!!!!!! (Why?)

Dannii Minogue: The Girls

• Lucie Jones

• Rachel Adedeji

• Stacey Solomon

Who will make it through to The X Factor final 12?

In just over half an hours time, The X Factor bursts onto our screens with judges Simon, Cheryl, Louis and Dannii choosing their final three for the live shows next week. But who will be one step closer to winning that recording contract?

After last night dramatic episode coming from the judges locations around the world, Los Angeles, Marrakesh, Lake Como and Dubai, they really have their work cut out.

Simon has a tough decision as all six of his contestants appear to have faultless vocals. Cheryl and Dannii also have a tough choice to make with some of the younger contestants making an impact. But Louis has the hardest choice. I think this series is the first one where there have been no outstanding groups. Sorry but there is no real JLS or Journey South at this point.

So who will the judges put through? There are bound to be some surprises along the way. Check back for The X Factor: The Final Twelve on this blog after the ITV1 show.

The X Factor – Tonight at 20:00 on ITV1

Cowell to give Cole The X Factor?

Could Cole be taking over The X Factor? (Source: The Insider)

Simon Cowell could step down as an X Factor judge after the sixth series this year. Cowell, who is apporaching his 50th birthday already knows who he will put in charge, the newest judge, Cheryl Cole.

Cowell said that she has what it takes to drive the show forward as she has become such a popular fixture on the show. She has been a hit with viewers and was the winning mentor last year with Alexandra Burke. Not bad for a first series is it?

So what do you think:

Can The X Factor survive without Simon Cowell? 

Has Cheryl Cole got what it takes to continue the show in Cowell’s absence?

What do you think the other judges think about this idea?

The X Factor returns later this year where judges Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will also return.

X Factor pay rise only for Cole

 

X Factor judges, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell (Source: blogs.guardian.co.uk)

It has been reported that Cheryl Cole will be the only X Factor star to receive a pay rise. The Girls Aloud star will be given a 34% pay increase, meaning her wage packet will be boosted to £1.1 million. Fellow judges Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue may not receive pay rises. Simon Cowell has already signed a mammoth deal with ITV.

The next series will see Cole taking the reigns of judge for the second time. When her place as judge was first announced there was some speculation as to whether she would be up to standards. Since then she has become the most popular of the judges and is now seen as the younger, more beautiful star of the show. A role that was filled by Dannii Minogue previously. 

An ITV source said that Cole was the only one to receive the pay rise because the corporation wanted to do all they could to keep her. She has been a huge asset. 

Following news of the recent ITV cutbacks, presenter Dermot O’Leary will take a pay cut.