[Billy]

X FACTOR bosses have scrapped an idea to rival Strictly Come Dancing with a live Sunday night results show.
Simon Cowell & Co came up with the plan to spread the ITV1 telly talent show across two nights.

But TV Biz revealed that Cowell only wanted to launch the results slot if it went out live — and was not pre-recorded, like Strictly.

However, that would have cost an extra £500,000 a week. And X Factor judges were demanding more cash on pay deals for filming an extra day

A show source said last night: “We will be sticking to Saturday nights and staying live.”


BBC1’s ballroom hit Strictly launched a Sunday night results programme last year — recorded immediately after the Saturday night live broadcast.

The new show drew an extra nine million viewers. So it was no surprise that ITV was keen to follow suit.

However, with a more unpredictable programme, Cowell was keen for it go live, while ITV and producers TalkbackThames wanted to pre-record.

The insider said: “The X Factor is not like other shows. You’ll have things like a judge walking out — like Sharon Osbourne last year.

“We could not have pre-recorded as you would miss out on all the action.”

X Factor is back with a bang in September.

The Sun