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ITV The X Factor

X Factor executives deny claims the show will be axed in 2017 following lowest recorded ratings

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By Jessica Goodfellow, Media Reporter

February 4, 2016 | 3 min read

Rumours that the X Factor will be not be returning to screens next year have been thwarted by executives of the show, who deny any truth to the speculation following a marked decline in ratings.

Reports claim ITV would be resting the show “for at least a year” to make room for ‘The Voice’, with a TV insider reportedly telling the Daily Mail: “They will rest ‘The X Factor’ for 2017 because there is no way they can run two singing contests and ‘BGT’ in the same year, they cannot do it.

“Particularly because the ‘X Factor’ contract is coming to an end and it has been a disaster. If ‘The Voice’ is a success it's unlikely they will bring back ‘The X Factor’ but if ‘The Voice’ is a disaster they have ‘The X Factor’.”

However, a Syco spokesperson insisted the show will keep running, telling The Sun: "'The X Factor' will not be rested in 2017."

The most recent series of ‘The X Factor’ was plagued with declining figures, repeatedly losing out in the ratings battle to ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and failing even to pull in the same ratings as ‘Countryfile’ on two separate occasions.

Controversy around the apparent fixing of the show hasn't helped popularity, after claims producers told fans to light up the arena with torches only during Louisa Johnson’s performance in the live final, the eventual winner.

Her winning single, a cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’, went on to become the lowest-charting debut single for an ‘X Factor’ winner in the show’s history.

Dermot O'Leary, ex-presenter of the show, recently suggested giving the show a year to counter the ratings slump. Speaking to Radio Times, O’Leary said: "If I was Simon I'd take it off air for a year. I would rest it, and then I would get back to the rooms.”

ITV The X Factor

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