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The X Factor (British TV series) series 4

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Template:Future television Template:The X Factor UK The fourth series of The X Factor is due to be broadcast from 18 August[1] to December 2007. Initial auditions with producers took place in April and May, with callbacks in front of the judges in June. The number of applicants reached an all-time high with 300,000 people auditioning[2][3] in the cities of London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester and Belfast. Eight thousand people attended an open audition at Emirates Stadium (home of Arsenal F.C.), London, on 9 June 2007.[4] Due to receiving the highest number of applications so far, an additional open audition was held at Birmingham Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, on 21 July 2007.[5]

Changes to the format

The Shows advert was shown on the 3rd August on ITV2 during Coronation Street repeat. It showed that they had anew host and four judges Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Dannii Minouge and Brien Fridman, It also showed a clip of some school children screaming "yes" and then Sharon says "I miss Louis" and then Simon Cowell says "We're Going To Get Louis Back." The show's fourth run will see major changes to the format for the first time since it began in 2004. Producers of the show have regularly stated that they try to improve and expand with each series to keep it "fresh",[6] and this ethic seems to have been applied most strongly to series 4: "...the feeling is they want to send the fourth series of the show into the stratosphere".[7]


The bottom age group will now consist of singers between the ages of 14 and 16 (previously the lower age limit was 16).[8][9] The under 16s age group will compete with the pre-existing categories of 16-24, 25 and overs and Groups, raising the total number of categories from three to four. Application forms were modified to require applicants to be 14 years of age by 1 April 2007.

Auditionees will now need a minimum of three "yesses" (previously two) from the judges to proceed to the next round.

Rather than disbanding to manage their own categories, series 4 will see all four judges work together at the bootcamp. It is likely that they will disband for the "Visits to the Judges' Homes" round.[10]

Judges will now choose three acts (previously four for series 2 and 3) to represent them on the live shows, making a total of twelve acts competing for the £1 million recording contract.[11][12][13]

There will be a change with regards to the judges' vote on the live shows. In previous series, the decision as to which act got sent home each week was made by the three judges (seeing as there would always be a majority). However with four judges this will no longer be the case, as there is the possibility of them reaching a tie.

Judges

In March 2007 it was reported that judge Louis Walsh had been sacked, and this, along with the additional category, created vacancies for two new judges to join the original panel of Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne.[14] The new judges were initially confirmed as Dannii Minogue and Brian Friedman.[15] However, on 22 June 2007, it was announced that Louis Walsh had been reinstated as a judge. The Irish music manager replaces Brian Friedman, who resigned after discussing with Simon Cowell that he was struggling in the role of judge. Walsh was due to rejoin Cowell, Osbourne and Minogue at the Manchester auditions. Friedman will remain on the show as a performance coach and choreographer.[16][17][18][19][20] Some have suggested that Walsh's firing and rehiring was concocted to generate publicity, but this has been denied.[21][22]

Presenters

Following the axing of presenter Kate Thornton, Dermot O'Leary will take over as host.[23] However, O'Leary was not forced to leave the Big Brother franchise and will continue to present Big Brother sister shows this summer. It is reported that he will use a helicopter provided by one of the TV companies to commute from Elstree, where Big Brother shows are filmed, to the auditions. Fearne Cotton will be the new host of The Xtra Factor on ITV2, following Ben Shephard's resignation.[24][25][26]

Venue

Simon Cowell was reported to be seeking a larger venue for the live shows, previously filmed at The Fountain Studios in Wembley. First on Cowell's list is said to be Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire.[27]

Standard of talent

At ITV's Autumn launch on 12 July 2007, Simon Cowell discussed the upcoming series. He said that in previous years the programme had been more like a "popularity contest" than a talent show. With two more audition locations to go, he commented on the standard of talent this series: "It's in a different league this year," he added. Being interviewed by ITV Head of Entertainment and Comedy, Paul Jackson, Dermot O'Leary said he was still getting used to handling the rejected at the auditions: "I'm still trying to work it out. It's a emotionally exhausting show to do." In a clip of the show that aired at the launch, Sharon Osbourne said that she felt it was "her year to win", adding: "If I don't win I will fire myself – before someone else does!"[28]

On 13 July 2007 Simon Cowell was reported to have said The X Factor series 4 will have the best talent seen so far. Speaking about the live shows he said: "we're going to have the best 12 [contestants] we've ever seen". This came with comments that the auditions this year went "brilliantly". He also said that they had seen the best and the worst at the auditions, commenting that one act was "without question the worst act I've seen ever".[29][30][31]

References

  1. ^ "Britain's best TV listings, storylines, news and video from soaps like EastEnders". What's On TV. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "X Factor 2007 will be the best - and worst - yet". What's On TV. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Simon's 'best and worst acts'". Metro. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "The X Factor - The X Factor Auditions...!". The X Factor website. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "The X Factor - The X Factor Auditions...!". The X Factor. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Simon Cowell Reveals Why He Sacked Kate And Louis". Unreality TV. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Kate Thornton faces 'X Factor' axe?". Digital Spy. 25 October 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "Simon Cowell can't do without me!". Daily Mail. 29 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "ITV Home - ITV". ITV. 12 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Simon Cowell can't do without me!". Daily Mail. 29 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "X Factor 2007 will be the best - and worst - yet". What's On TV. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Simon's 'best and worst acts'". Metro. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "COWELL'S X-CITED!". Daily Mirror. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Mr Nasty gives judge Louis sack, The Sun, March 9, 2007
  15. ^ ""Fourth Series - Fourth Judge"". The X Factor. 2007-06-04. Retrieved 2007-06-04. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Cowell and Walsh reLounited". The Sun. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ "LOUIS' X AND MAKE UP". The Daily Mirror. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ "Cowell backs down and calls for the Louis Factor again". The Daily Mail. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ "Louis Walsh returns to X Factor". ITV News. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Louis Walsh returns to The X Factor". Digital Spy. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Lou's X Factor Return, Sky Showbiz
  22. ^ Louis 'thrilled' to return to the X Factor, Telegraph, June 23, 2007
  23. ^ "O'Leary to present X Factor show". BBC News. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Fearne Cotton to host Xtra Factor". The Sun. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ "Ben Shephard Exits X Factor". The Sun. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ "Ben Shephard leaves Xtra Factor". The Daily Mirror. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ "Simon Cowell to move 'X Factor' venue". Life Style Extra. 10 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Cowell: This year's 'X Factor' better than ever". Digital Spy. 12 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "X Factor 2007 will be the best - and worst - yet". What's On TV. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "Simon's 'best and worst acts'". Metro. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "COWELL'S X-CITED!". Daily Mirror. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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