The X Factor UK 2014

I think Simon and Cheryl are, and were, always givens.

Why is that? She very rarely provides criticism to the acts and she doesn't bring much in terms of entertainment. I can't think of anyone who would really miss her if she weren't there.

It's a bit of shame Rita Ora was scooped up by the BBC. She would fulfill that role better - She's spontaneous and fun, she can dish out advice on the singing as she can actually, y'know sing and she'll generate more headlines.
 
I do think we're being a little selective about how we're remembering Cheryl's behaviour last series. She dragged Jay James & Ben Haenow on more than a few occasions, and I remember her giving out quite a few unpopular no's during the auditions.

Don't get me wrong, she still shocks me with how dull she can be but I would place 2014 as her second best year on the show.
 
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The Voice role is far less demanding because in the UK the judges are TOLD not to be critical. It's hard not to seem likeable when all your doing is being nice to people. Cheryl is still a household name and probably the biggest UK female pop star they could get. And that she can drag acts to hell, albeit on the sly, while still generally thought of as "likeable" amongst the GP is not as easy as it looks.
 
This is where we differ, because I feel Cheryl's contribution as a X Factor judge is becoming as tired as Louis'.

She was great the first time round, but time for a change.
 
I would love if they had the balls to hire someone like Jameela Jamil for the panel. She's always had a very music-orientated presenting career (Popworld, T4, Radio 1) and is able to deliver that much needed natural humour where Simon/Cheryl can't. On top of that she looks the part and will be able to play into the weekly fashion war thing.

Also if they hired someone like Robbie or Olly alongside her they could come up with some interesting advertising campaign involving a rivalry between them and the remaining two judges. The Old vs. The New or something.
 
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I'd be keen for Jameela to appear. I've always liked her and she has an enjoyable amount of disdain for contrivance and unnecessary sexing up. She's more likely to get the presenting slot though, I'd imagine.

I'm going to miss Dermot so very, very much.
 
She's got sacked within four days written all over her.

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Cheryl is the kind of judge I could do without, as she never really excites me, and the Simon/Cheryl banter is getting a bit stale. I wouldn't mind if the stayed though, but I rather see someone else take her place.
 
I really think Cheryl was so off last season because her category was a mess and probably affected the way she approached the rest of the show's elements...

Or she was tired trying to think of #IDon'tCarePromo - but we all know how that went down...
 
Cheryl started quite well and picked probably the most interesting people in her category but she lost interest when the show and public clearly valued the dullards over potential stars like Steph. When she's fired up and wants her acts to succeed she is a much better judge.
 
I actually thought Cheryl was at her best last series. Mel started off well and then veered into a ironically-enjoyable troll figure before ultimately becoming a younger, female Louis, barking stock phrases ("Light and shade!", "On point!") and having zero consistency. If one or the other were to come back, I'd have to opt for Cheryl, though obviously a complete overhaul would be nice.

That said, I don't think any combination of judges is really going to draw people to a massive degree, the format is just too tired at this point. The best they can do is look to find the best possible line-up of contestants, choose more relevant/current songs and tone down the obvious, heavy-handed overproduction, which will at least invigorate the show for the audience that's sticking with it. However, given the fact that they actually seem to be courting an older, more conservative audience, I can't see what incentive the producers would have to ditch the relentless ballads and tired old tropes, unfortunately.
 
I can't imagine Olly Murs fronting primetime Saturday night ITV, even with Caroline's help. He's always come across as a little bit inarticulate to me.
 
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I think what The X-Factor needs is stop all this 'who's judging this year' nonsense. In the long run, it damages the brand because it's never out of the papers. People are tired of seeing it mentioned every other day in the papers, it feels like the show never truly goes away. When the show finishes in December, that should be it until it starts again the following Summer.

They should just do what Fox do with Idol, get the host and judges for the following season locked in within weeks of the previous season ending.
 

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