Simon Cowell is understood to be exploring a return for The X Factor on ITV, with plans for a younger, social-media-focused version of the Saturday night talent show and Cheryl potentially in the frame for a judging role.
The proposed revival would aim to reconnect the programme with a Gen Z audience, with TikTok and YouTube expected to play a far greater part in the search for new performers than they did during the original run.
Reports suggest contestants could submit performances online and allow viewers to help decide who progresses, potentially replacing or supplementing the traditional audition process. The format is also expected to feature a refreshed judging panel drawn from contemporary music and online entertainment.
Names reportedly being considered include singer Raye, PinkPantheress and Yungblud, alongside former judge Cheryl Tweedy. It is not clear whether Cowell would return to the panel or remain involved behind the scenes.
The X Factor has not been seen as a regular ITV series since 2018, after a 14-year run in which it became one of British television’s biggest weekend programmes. Its search for aspiring singers was accompanied by headline-making rows, emotional auditions and the pursuit of instant stardom.
Cheryl was one of the show’s most recognisable judges, serving on the panel alongside Cowell during its most successful years. She later returned as a guest mentor in 2017, helping Cowell select acts during the judges’ houses stage.
Cowell has previously indicated that he has been considering how the format might be adapted for a new generation. Speaking on Jamie East’s podcast Tales From The Celebrity Trenches in May, he discussed whether a future version should retain the X Factor name or be reshaped for younger viewers.
Neither ITV nor production company Talkback Thames has confirmed that a new series has been commissioned. Any return would mark a significant attempt to revive a format that once dominated Saturday night television, but which ended after declining audiences and changing viewing habits.
