X Factor can only go in One Direction

It’s that time of year again… X Factor is back for a ninth series and it’s bigger, brasher and bolder. Or is it?

It’s back

Six UK cities have been ‘X factored’ and Saturday’s opening show sees The X Factor juggernaut roll into London, Cardiff and Manchester.

Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who was axed from the US show after only one season, replaces Kelly Rowland as the fourth X Factor judge joining Gary Barlow, Tulisa and Louis Walsh. Mind you Scherzinger’s competition came in the form of Geri Halliwell, so it’s no surprise Scherzinger made it from guest judge to a more permanent fixture. Mel B spices up the panel in Manchester on Saturday.

And prepare yourself for a sight to behold. Gary and Louis take to the stage in Manchester to learn how to Zumba to Labrinth’s Earthquake. We’re shaking in our boots already.

Of course half the fun of watching X Factor is the cattiness of the judges. Simon’s absence is still keenly felt. Although the spats have already started off-screen when Louis (N)dubbed Tulisa a ‘chav in a tracksuit’. Wha-eva!

Format changes

If you’re an avid fan you’ll see there are changes afoot in the show’s format. Namely that contestants will be able to play instruments and sing their own material, the Overs category’s lower age limit has been raised from 25 to (the ancient in pop terms) 28 and the grand final will be oop North in Manchester, not London (hooray to that).

Contestants playing their own instruments and performing their own songs is the change which is likely to have the biggest impact on the show. After all, we were impressed when Matt Cardle showed he could play guitar well but never got the opportunity.

Low-key self-penned acoustic numbers could be just what the show needs to counter claims that it is nothing more than a TV pop factory. Then again, who knows what talentless, egotistical monsters could surface, convinced they’re the next Ed Sheeran.

So X Factor could go in any direction this year. But the producers will hope that their ratings only go in One Direction and that’s up from the 11 million viewers it averaged last year.

X Factor is on at 8pm, Saturday 18 August, ITV1.

What do you think about X Factor? Are the show’s changes enough to keep your interest this year? Let us know below.