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ITV’s Director of Entertainment and Comedy, Elaine Bedell, today confirmed a new scheduling pattern for this year’s new series of The X Factor – which will see shows broadcast on ITV1 on Saturday and Sunday evenings when the hit programme reaches the live stage of the series in mid-Autumn.

Saturday will continue to be a showcase for the act’s performances whilst the results will be the centrepiece of a new peak time Sunday evening show, alongside performances from a range of special guest superstars. Both Saturday and Sunday’s The X Factor shows will be broadcast live, with viewers also having a greater opportunity to vote for their chosen act over the weekend.

Elaine Bedell said: “The X Factor just keeps getting bigger and better, with last year’s series breaking records as the most popular yet, so we’re delighted to be offering ITV1 viewers more of what they want. The new Sunday results show will be a fantastic way of building excitement and anticipation across two nights of live television and with performances from some extra special guest stars The X Factor will now be an event spectacular across the whole weekend.”

Following the ITV1 shows, ITV2’s The Xtra Factor will also be broadcast on both Saturday and Sunday nights during the live stage of the series.

The 2008 series of The X Factor was the most successful ever, watched by an average audience of 10.7 million viewers and a 43.9 percent share, across its run.

The X Factor returns to ITV1 at 7.00pm on Saturday 22 August, with The Xtra Factor from 8.30pm on ITV2.

The X Factor is a talkbackThames/Syco production.