[zakman440]

SIMON COWELL and Co will be telling wannabes “you made that song your own” for years and years to come.

I can reveal the music mogul and ITV are in talks to keep Britain’s Got Talent AND The X Factor on our TV screens until the end of 2019.

And I’m told the negotiations should be completed by the beginning of May.

The new three-year deal will end constant speculation that the broadcaster’s new boss, KEVIN LYGO, was planning to rest or even axe The X Factor.

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Last night, a source close to the negotiations said: “This was always going to be a joint deal — Cowell, Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor come as a package.

“But a new three-year deal will be a huge relief to Cowell because it gives both shows a real sense of stability into the future.

“It will also end the constant rumours that The X Factor is going to be axed.”

The show’s executive producer RICHARD HOLLOWAY has also been waxing lyrical about how it is now as important to British telly as long-running soap Coronation Street.

He said: “I suppose the best way to show the enduring success of The X Factor is to look at the interest levels in it.

“We are still six months away from going on air this year and already the show is dominating the entertainment agenda. Everyone has a view on The X Factor.

“We are at the start of the second decade of this show, which is an enormous achievement in itself.

“And this is a show I am sure will last for many years to come.

“The X Factor is part of the fabric of the nation, like Coronation Street.

“In terms of judges and presenters, people come in and people go out of the show — as they do in Corrie.”

Last night an ITV spokesman confirmed: “The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent contracts come up for renewal after the latest series air later this year.

“We fully intend to continue with both shows into 2017 and beyond.”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ntil-2019.html

If you wanted to read Wooton's opinions:

Spoiler:

As a huge fan of the show since the beginning, I think this is a great decision.

Sure, the ratings might not hit the highs of the programme’s early years.

But The X Factor is still an entertainment juggernaut — despite the arrival of TV streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Look at the past week alone. My exclusives about judge NICK GRIMSHAW and also co-hosts CAROLINE FLACK and OLLY MURS departing the show have dominated the showbiz news agenda.

And former contestants such as ONE DIRECTION, LEONA LEWIS and LITTLE MIX remain bonafide pop superstars. Of course, it’s going to be exciting to see how Cowell and Lygo — a TV genius responsible for Channel 4 during the Big Brother era — evolve the show.

I hope they decide to introduce some of the innovative changes considered and then dropped at the last minute, like a scoring system and special mentors.

Keeping BGT was also a no-brainer as it’s now Cowell’s biggest hit show.

Now ITV just has to secure the signatures of ANT & DEC to continue as hosts.

They just need to let it go tbh. Let it have one last series - it's clearly not having an impact in the ratings or the charts anymore. I love the show but it's become a shadow of it's former self (much like BBUK).