Si gives show a big revamp

SIMON Cowell has given X Factor its biggest shake-up.

Cowell, below, wants the live shows to concentrate on winners rather than losers.

So contestants will battle it out to win new “money can’t buy” prizes.

He said: “You have got to make sure the show remains credible so we are going to make the live shows different and make them more exciting. “This year there will be much less emphasis on who is losing and much more focus back on who is winning.”

The changes – seen as a move to improve ratings by the ITV show against BBC rival Strictly – kick in this weekend when the first live shows begin.

On tomorrow’s two-hour show at 8.20pm, Cowell’s three bands will perform on stage along with Nicole Scherzinger’s three overs.

Viewers will vote for their favourite act and the artist with the least votes will instantly get the chop. ® There will be no sing-off and no chance of a deadlock – the public will have the last word and the winners will be declared at the end of the programme.

Sunday’s show, starting at 7pm, has Louis Walsh’s three boys singing against Sharon Osbourne’s girls.

Viewers will again vote throughout the night to decide who will go and who wins. Tomorrow’s and Sunday’s winners will then take part in a sing-off, with the public choosing the victor. The winners will get a “money can’t buy” prize related to the music industry – possibly the chance to perform on stage with their idol or a trip to a concert in an exotic place.

X Factor will have special guests performing live on both shows – Liam Payne tomorrow and Stormzy on Sunday.

Tomorrow fans will see which four acts rejected at Judges’ Houses have won a wild card return.