WHO HAS APPEAL?

It’s The X Factor final this weekend. NISHA MAL looks at how the finalists shape up ahead of the biggest night of their lives

IN ITS heyday, for many viewers The X Factor wasn’t just a singing contest – it was also an unofficial countdown to Christmas and a likely predictor of the year’s festive chart-topper.

But all that changed in 2017 when the number of live shows was reduced, meaning the final took place during the first weekend in December – and it’s happening again this year.

For some, this is just another sign that The X Factor isn’t the force it once was. In 2010, a staggering 19.4 million viewers tuned in to watch Matt Cardle being crowned as the winner, but in recent years the ratings have been declining.

This year’s shake-up of the show was widely interpreted as a reaction to that waning popularity, as Simon Cowell brought in a new judging panel including Robbie Williams, Ayda Williams and Louis Tomlinson, who, as part of One Direction, was one of the contestants in that hugely successful 2010 series.

They have been smart signings – even if Robbie had to miss some live shows due to previous commitments – but they haven’t reversed the slide in viewership.

And the show also had to deal with some unforeseen technical problems – a fault affected the sound and led to a public vote being cancelled.

However, despite the somewhat gloomy picture of late, it seems that certain sections of the press may be jumping the gun in claiming that The X Factor is on the skids.

According to Simon, ITV are planning to renew the show until 2022, and the ratings don’t tell the full story, especially when it comes to who’s still watching.

He said “It makes a lot of money. We’re losing people now, but fortunately the young audience has actually grown this year, and all the advertisers and the sponsors want that income on a Saturday.”

In an era when a growing number of younger viewers are turning their backs on traditional broadcast television, a show that can still appeal to the coveted 16-34 audience is not to be sniffed at, especially when the viewing figures don’t always take into account those who catch up online. (Host Dermot O’Leary says he’s met fans of the show who admit they never sit down to watch an episode and instead follow it via YouTube).

So, it’s no wonder aspiring singers still see the show as a route to stardom, and the stakes are definitely high as the winner will bag a record deal with Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment.

In November, the bookies had Dalton Harris as the favourite to win, followed by Scarlett Lee – and they have both made the final. But they’ll face tough competition from Anthony Russell, who is also in the running.

We’re promised an appearance by a chart-topping act and Dermot will be on hand to keep the show on the road. Let’s just hope those technical gremlins don’t strike again...

The three finalists will perform tonight with the winner revealed on tomorrow night’s show.

Let’s see how the finalists shape up.