A BOMBSHELL documentary on The X Factor is being made, with Simon Cowell being lined up to ensure the show is a definitive history of the TV phenomenon.
I can reveal that Sky is developing the three-parter, which will be a no-holds-barred look at the talent contest that gave us and , but also served up several scandals.
A documentary on The X Factor, where One Direction got their start, is in the works
Simon is in advanced talks to give his version of events for the landmark documentary, which will come almost a decade after the show was axed by .
A TV insider said: “This will be a definitive, premium series about a true entertainment TV juggernaut.
“Those closest to the story will be approached to be in the show, both in front of and behind the camera, and discussions are ongoing.
“It follows on from Sky Docs’ history of authentic and unfiltered documentaries, notably the recent Boyzone biopic.
“The doc has yet to be fully greenlit, despite now being at an advanced stage of development, but persuading to take part could be the final piece of the jigsaw.”
It is hoped some of the biggest names associated with the competition, including members of 1D and Little Mix as well as the judges, could be invited to take part.
From 2004 to 2018, dominated TV, producing some of Britain’s biggest pop stars, and made Simon and fellow panellists and household names.
But it also led to accusations of manipulation, bullying and abuse.
Another insider said: “The documentary is likely to lift the lid on both the highs and lows of the show and won’t flinch from asking difficult questions of the biggest players.
“Since the show was rested by ITV seven years ago, rumours have swirled that a TV show was being made which would take a deep dive on The X Factor.
“But it needed producers with heft who had the potential to attract all the people needed to make it a comprehensive, balanced look at the history of a show which could cut through all the rumours and speculation.”
X Factor judges Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger, and Simon Cowell
PERRIE IN DOC SHOCK
LITTLE MIX star Perrie Edwards is making a surprise appearance in the upcoming BBC documentary .
Other groups including Girls Aloud and The Spice Girls declined to take part, probably because last year’s Boybands Forever didn’t exactly pour glory on the phenomenon.
Perrie Edwards will feature in the upcoming BBC documentary Girlbands Forever
Many viewers thought Boybands Forever had omitted One Direction because they were formed in 2010 so weren’t part of the “original era of the boyband” – the Nineties and Noughties.
But the same rules clearly haven’t applied to Little Mix, which were formed in 2011 – on The X Factor, like 1D.
Producer said: “Going back and rediscovering all that music and those videos and the interviews they did has been an absolute pleasure.
“There was pain behind the music, too, and as is so often the case, there was a price to be paid for that level of young fame.
“But mainly we wanted this to be a celebration of a time of very special music and talent.”
Other contributors will be Heidi Range from Sugababes, Kelle Bryan Of Eternal, Atomic Kitten’s , All Saints’ Melanie Blatt, Su-Elise Nash Of Mis-Teeq as well as Tulisa Of N-Dubz.
Girlbands Forever will air this year on BBC Two.
THE new series of will begin on September 28 on ITV2 and ITVX and has been supersized to a seven-week run.
First launched on Channel 4 in 2000, the show has racked up more than 100million streams since it moved to ITV in 2023 with Will Best and AJ Odudu as hosts.
JAMES’S 20-YEAR ’OAKS END
A HOLLYOAKS legend has quit after nearly 20 years on the soap.
James Sutton has been involved in some of ’s most memorable storylines since his character John Paul McQueen’s 2006 debut.
James Sutton has quit Hollyoaks after nearly 20 years on the soap
But in a shock plot next year.
A source said: “James has loved his time at Hollyoaks, but he’s got other things he wants to do.
“He has his eye on a new career away from acting with a self-improvement campaign for men like him.
“He has really revamped his life over the last few years, with fitness and mental health transformations, and he thinks he could help others do the same.
“It’s not a goodbye to acting, but it’s not going to be the only thing he does now.”
SILENCE OVER FOR DERMOT
DERMOT O’LEARY’s show after just one series, bosses have confirmed.
The contest, which aired on U&Dave three months ago, saw a studio audience offered a £250,000 jackpot if they remained totally quiet.
Dermot O’Leary’s Silence Is Golden has been axed
joined forces with comedians/team captains , Fatiha El-Ghorri and to try to shatter the silence by various methods – usually involving acts brought into the studio.
But the six-parter was up against Last One Laughing on Prime Video – a similar concept that was far more successful.
A spokesman for UKTV said: “Silence Is Golden will not be returning for a second series.
“We’d like to thank everyone at Yes Yes Media for working on such a fun show together, as well as our brilliant host Dermot O’Leary, our wonderful team captains the comedians and acts who took part and everyone in the studio audience.”
MITCHELL And Webb Are Not Helping has become Channel 4’s most successful scripted comedy debut in seven years.
David Mitchelland Robert Webb’s opener pulled in 1.8million viewers.
Charlie Perkins of C4 said: “They said sketch was dead, but it’s great to see a resurrection under way.”
A ROYAL RETURN FOR JASE
JASON MANFORD will host November’s Royal Variety Performance – five years after presenting it to a virtual crowd during the pandemic.
, who took on the role in 2020, says he can’t wait to get on stage in front of an audience at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Jason Manford will host November’s Royal Variety Performance
He said: “The Royal Variety is always such a spectacular night, so I’m chuffed to be asked back.
“Last time, I had a virtual audience… like doing a gig in front of a Currys window!
“So I’m very excited to see some real-life human faces this time.”
I’m sure The Masked Singer runner-up won’t be able to resist belting out a few tunes himself.
The world’s longest-running entertainment show will air later this year.
