WHEN The X Factor lost its ratings battle with BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing, its producers were comforted by the knowledge they were up against one of TV’s biggest shows.
But spin-off X Factor: The Band was beaten this week by a less glamorous Beeb stalwart . . . Bargain Hunt.
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On Wednesday morning, a REPEAT of the antiques auction show, often hosted by former Strictly contestant Tim Wonnacott and now presented by experts including Eric Knowles — drew more than 2million viewers.
That matches the number who tuned in later that day to Simon Cowell’s latest bid to revive the flagging format.
After 25 minutes of X Factor: The Band, almost a quarter of viewers had turned off. At its lowest point, just 1.45million were watching.
A telly insider said: “This is particularly embarrassing for Simon and the producers.
“They really hoped tweaking the format would breathe new life into it.
‘Breathing space’
“Having the show shift from competing with the likes of Strictly on a weekend was supposed to provide a bit more breathing space too.
“But it has only left the show open to comparisons like this, where even a repeat of a daytime TV show beats a primetime giant like X Factor.”
Even the first episode started badly.
On Monday, it debuted with 2.8million viewers but slumped to a low of 1.7million.
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In the same slot the previous week, I’m A Celebrity lured 8.2million viewers.
But the news isn’t all bad for Simon.
It was announced this week The X Factor will return next year as part of a five-year deal which will also keep Britain’s Got Talent on our screens until at least 2024.
I’m not sure they’ll be in a hurry to bring back X Factor: The Band, though.
bizbit
GEORDIE Shore star Scotty T has been declared bankrupt by Newcastle’s County Court.
We revealed last year how his firm owed creditors £147,000. He admitted spending to millions on cocaine “to cope” with celebrity life.
Amber’s ex gets green
DESPITE their very public break-up, Love Island winner Amber Gill insists she is pleased ex Greg O’Shea has moved on.
After the rugby star was spotted on a date in Paris with athlete Emma Canning, Amber gave him the go-ahead, saying: “I’m fine with it, to be honest.
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“He wasn’t for me, so he’ll be more suited to someone else.”
The beauty therapist-turned-reality star has made £1million on her MissPap clothing deal but is keeping her head screwed on.
Talking about life after the ITV2 hit, she said: “We have the option to go to therapy sessions. The producers are always checking we are OK.
“There is compulsory therapy. I enjoyed it. It’s a very expensive service a lot of people don’t get the option to have.
“I’ll see how I feel when the compulsory ones are over.
“You have to think about the long term. I don’t want to lose all my money. It’s easily done.”
bizbit
PETER CROUCH will front a BBC1 entertainment series about next year’s Euro 2020 finals.
Over 15 live episodes, Crouch’s Euro Fest will mix comedy, footie and celeb guests.
He said: “I can’t quite believe this is happening.”
Clif was on edge
KEVIN CLIFTON got all in a tizzy ahead of his singing debut on Strictly last week.
The dancer, who has performed in musical Rock Of Ages, admitted to an 11th-hour meeting with his vocal coach.
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Kev said: “Sometimes I can be a complete mess in my head, my own worst enemy. I was a mess all week.”
He added: “I stayed behind on Friday and I was really nervous, so I called my vocal coach and asked her to come to the studio to prepare and give me breathing exercises to do. She was wicked.”
Luckily, Kev killed it.
Must watch
WHAT? Mock The Week, BBC2, 10pm.
WHY? Host Dara O Briain is joined by Hugh Dennis as the latest series of the panel show comes to an end. They look back at the best bits and unseen material.
Paddy plays Vice
TAKE Me Out turns back the clock for a special Eighties edition of the dating show.
Host Paddy McGuinness is a dead ringer for Don Johnson in his retro get-up, looking more like a cop from Miami Vice than a telly matchmaker.
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Just who gets caught up in the flashback romances will be revealed on Saturday at 5.30pm.
Hopefully Paddy does better playing Cupid than he has with that giant Rubik’s Cube.
AJ and bro do tango
LUCKY lads Wesley and Jordan get the strangest celebrity visitors on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show tomorrow night.
While the fellas relax in a tanning salon, in walk Strictly Come Dancing’s AJ Pritchard and his brother, former Love Islander Curtis.
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Clad in dressing downs, the two dancers perform in front of the pair – in a prank captured with hidden cameras.
It ends with Wesley and Jordan being the BBC1 show’s Unexpected Stars, performing in front of a packed theatre.
Maybe AJ and Curtis should be their backing dancers . . .
