X Factor ratings plunge prompts Cowell intervention
X Factor mastermind Simon Cowell has been forced to intervene in the struggling UK edition of the hit show after the latest bout of dire viewing figures showed a further 700,000 former fans had switched off.
Just 11.4m tuned in to watch Saturday nights live edition of the songathon, 700,000 down on the previous week and 2.3m down on the same point last year.
The numbers prompted Cowell to pick up the blower to his replacement, Take That star Gary Barlow, to instruct other judges to “raise their game” according to sources at The Sun.
Producers of the ITV show were also subjected to a verbal bruising from the cranky caller, over their choice of songs and outfits.
An ITV spokesman defended the shows performance, stating: "The X Factor continued to be the UK's most watched entertainment show and ITV1 was the most popular channel across peak time."