Simon Cowell new game show news
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Simon Cowell launching new ITV game show following X Factor axe

Half a million will be up for grabs!

Former X Factor head honcho Simon Cowell is set to launch a huge new game show on ITV.

Simon, 61, will reportedly launch Walk The Line later this year.

And a whopping £500,000 will be up for grabs.

Barring Who Wants To Ba A Millionaire?, it’ll offer the biggest cash prize on any UK game show.

What’s more, Simon is said to be keen to have fresh talent hosting the show.

Simon Cowell suffers his second e-bike accident
Simon Cowell’s new show is reportedly called Walk The Line (Credit: SplashNews)

So what do we know about the new Simon Cowell game show?

He’s apparently not interested in reusing the likes of past X Factor pals Cheryl, Louis Walsh or Sharon Osbourne.

Read more: Simon Cowell sports ‘oxygen tank’ on night out

A source told The Mirror: “He wanted to make the prize the biggest on UK telly right now and was adamant it wouldn’t be any less than £500k. He also wants new faces. There will be no Cheryl or Louis Walsh.”

Apparently potential judges could include Joel Dommett and/or Olly Alexander.

The show is due to be filmed in autumn – and initial auditions are said to be happening right now.

Cheryl won't be on Simon Cowell's new game show
Cheryl reportedly won’t be on Simon Cowell’s new game show (Credit: SplashNews)

So will Simon appear on the show?

Although Simon wants new stars, he himself is expected to still serve as a face of the show.

This will be the first time he’s on UK television in over a year and a half after the music mogul broke his back last August after falling off his electric bike.

Read more: The most controversial X Factor moments ever

Extensive surgery ensued, as well as months of recovery time at home.

This forced him to pull out of both his American and British television filming commitments.

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How will Walk The Line work?

There will be a musical element, X Factor fans.

Apparently Walk The Line will initially see musical acts compete to impress a panel of judges.

Then the two acts judged the best will have the chance to “cash out” with a money prize or continue competing on the show for the chance to reach a higher cash amount.

Why was The X Factor cancelled?

News of this new Simon Cowell show comes just a week after it was formally announced that The X Factor was cancelled.

Simon’s brainchild, he reportedly cancelled the franchise over fears it would become a “joke”.

The X Factor
The Simon Cowell fronted show The X Factor is no more (Credit: ITV)

Indeed, after being one of the biggest shows on telly for years, viewing figures plummeted in 2018.

ITV said in a formal statement: “There are no current plans for the next series of The X Factor at this stage.”

*ED! has contacted Simon Cowell’s representative for comment.

So will you be watching? Let us know on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor