Simon Cowell’s ‘big two fingers up to ITV’ over The X Factor. As TV insiders reveal shock next move, mogul’s secret plan being called ‘priceless retribution’ is leaked to DOLLY BUSBY

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As a lifestyle expert, I remember when The X Factor was absolutely huge! It was truly ITV’s biggest show, regularly pulling in around 20 million viewers every Saturday night – it was a cultural moment, honestly.

The show was much more than just popular television. Over its 14 years on air, this singing competition dramatically reshaped the British music scene, launching the careers of major stars like One Direction, Leona Lewis, Little Mix, JLS, and Olly Murs.

While the show’s popularity declined in its later seasons due to competition from streaming services and concerns raised by former participants, the official announcement in 2021 that ITV had no immediate plans for another series of The X Factor still came as a surprise to many viewers.

Those close to the show were reportedly deeply disappointed by its cancellation. The biggest issue wasn’t the end itself, but how ITV handled it – the channel waited three years after the show went off the air to officially confirm it wouldn’t return. Sources say Simon Cowell was given those three years to develop a new version of the show to attract viewers again. However, when he presented his ideas to ITV, they didn’t show any interest.

Even though he’s reportedly worth £475 million, Cowell has remained professional and continues to collaborate with ITV on his popular show, Britain’s Got Talent.

Good news for X Factor fans! The music mogul behind the show is back with a new reality competition that’s very similar to the original.

This season will be different, though. Instead of airing on traditional TV, Simon Cowell is partnering with Netflix to stream the show.

People in the television industry are really enthusiastic about this project, and it’s being described as a defiant challenge to ITV.

Netflix is releasing a six-part documentary series called ‘Simon Cowell: The Next Act.’ The show will document Simon Cowell’s search for a new British band, starting with open auditions and following them all the way to the release of their first song.

The streaming service promises viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Simon Cowell’s latest project, offering complete access to everything that happens.

People familiar with the situation say Netflix brought Simon on board for the reality show to demonstrate the network’s influence.

However, sources close to Cowell suggest his reasons are different. They say he’s determined to show he can still launch a successful band, just as he famously did with One Direction and Little Mix.

According to a source, doing well on Netflix would be a satisfying way to get back at ITV, considering how the show The X Factor ended.

Cowell refutes these claims, and a close insider says there’s no bad blood or ongoing conflict – Simon is completely dedicated to developing new shows and finding promising performers.

Some people will naturally be unsure about his return to music competition shows.

Katie Waissel, known for her distinctive husky voice, platinum blonde hair, and memorable performance of Queen’s “We Are The Champions” on The X Factor, became a household name in 2010. She finished seventh on the show, which achieved its highest ever viewership that year.

In 2023, she filed a lawsuit against Simon Cowell’s company, Syco Entertainment, claiming the show had negatively impacted her life and that the company hadn’t properly cared for its contestants.

After learning about Simon Cowell’s new agreement with Netflix, the 39-year-old shared a critical message about her previous employer on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

It’s remarkable how quickly the entertainment industry moves on. This ‘comeback’ feels like just another effort to revive a system that has already used and discarded so many people.

‘To see him reappear with yet another “new” show isn’t entertainment, it’s repetition.

‘A recycling of pain packaged as promise.’

Cowell has been contacted for comment about Ms Waissel’s statement.

She has been joined by a handful of former contestants who have spoken out against the show.

In a 2022 post on X (formerly Twitter), Jedward – brothers John and Edward Grimes – claimed that all contestants on The X Factor were exploited, receiving no payment while the show’s producers earned substantial profits.

Cher Lloyd, a contestant on the same season as Ms. Waissel, has spoken about feeling taken advantage of during her time on the show. Matt Terry, who won in 2016, has expressed hope that The X Factor will not come back.

Despite the ongoing accusations, Cowell kept focused on developing his next major project.

He launched StemDrop, a talent search on social media. Creators on TikTok were invited to create their own takes on a song, then work with hit songwriters Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, and Ali Payami, who have collectively won multiple Grammy Awards.

The TikTok and Samsung project, which began in October 2022, quietly ended with little impact – it only gained 142,000 followers before disappearing.

Several weeks after that, Cowell hinted that NBCUniversal, through a deal giving them the first chance to consider his new reality TV ideas, was planning to revive The X Factor in the United States.

During an America’s Got Talent press event, he explained his preference for England versus America with a personal motto: “Always accept the best opportunity that comes your way.”

Now that Simon Cowell is venturing into streaming, it remains to be seen if he can still guarantee success with every project. If he does, ITV might wonder if cancelling The X Factor was a mistake.

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2025-10-23 19:34