TV

Little Mix and BBC ‘launching new talent show to rival The X Factor’

It could be a "massive blow" for Simon Cowell

Pop group Little Mix are reportedly teaming up with the BBC to launch a new talent show to rival ITV’s The X Factor.

A source quoted by The Sun said the new programme will be a “massive blow” for X Factor boss Simon Cowell, who is taking his own talent competition in new directions this year with the launch of a celebrity version.

Little Mix
Little Mix would reportedly mentor hopefuls on the show (Credit: Grant Buchanan / SplashNews.com)

Read more: Louis Walsh claims he only left The X Factor because Simon Cowell ‘paid him off’

They told the publication: “This show is huge for Little Mix but it will be a massive blow for Simon.

“The X Factor’s viewing figures have fallen for years but this could be the nail in the coffin.

“Saturday night needs a new singing competition to freshen it up and, with Little Mix involved, this could well be it.”

Speaking further, the source said Little Mix – whose members shot to fame in 2011 on the eighth series of The X Factor – would be mentoring youngsters on the new talent competition with the aim of creating a new group with “genuine” prospects.

ED! contacted the BBC and Little Mix’s reps for comment.

Simon Cowell
Could the new show rival Simon Cowell’s X Factor? (Credit: SplashNews.com)

The X Factor: Celebrity gets underway this weekend, after the full line-up for the show was revealed at the end of last month.

The competition will see the already-famous hopefuls singing to impress three familiar faces – Simon, and his co-judges Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger.

Former TOWIE star Megan McKenna, who is now a country music singer, will compete alongside chat show queen Ricki Lake, while The Chase favourite Jenny Ryan will also perform live.

Jenny Ryan
Jenny Ryan is confirmed for the new celebrity X Factor (Credit: Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)

Read more: X Factor’s Dermot O’Leary praises ‘superhero’ wife Dee Koppang in gushing anniversary tribute on Instagram

Others performing on the show include actor David Hasslehoff’s daughter Hayley, TV presenter Martin Bashir, Glee’s Kevin McHale and a number of former soap stars, such as Jonny Labey, who played EastEnders‘ Paul Coker, and ex Corrie star Victoria Ekanoye.

Last week, judge Louis Walsh, 67, revealed that two of The X Factor’s established stages have been ditched in an effort to shake things up.

In a chat with The Sun, Louis said that both the Six-Chair Challenge and Bootcamp have been dropped, telling the paper: “The show feels more exciting. There’s no Bootcamp, no Six-Chair Challenge, it feels slick this year.”

The X Factor: Celebrity starts on Saturday (12.10.19) at 8.35pm on ITV

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Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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