The X Factor 'Suffers Huge Viewing Figures Slump'
Number of viewers reportedly three million lower than last year...
The X Factor has dropped a whopping three million viewers on last year's opening episode, it has been reported.
The Mirror claims that the show had its lowest audience for a first episode in six years on Saturday, with just 8.1 million people tuning in - compared to 11 million last year.
And the paper quoted an insider as saying: "It is a huge disappointment. The producers think it was a great show with plenty of drama, but a large number of people who watched in previous years simply didn't bother to tune in.
"The audience size needs to improve, and fast. We can't afford for X Factor to fail, and production staff are pulling out all of the stops ahead of next week's show.
"There are always going to be questions over not having Simon Cowell on the panel – he was a big draw. Everyone hopes the audience will build over the coming weeks, but it is a very worrying start."
Saturday's show - which covered the auditions phase - featured the debut of new judge Nicole Scherzinger and a memorable guest slot from Spice Girls star Mel B.
We told you yesterday how Tulisa had been feuding with Lord Sugar on Twitter.
THE X FACTOR IS BACK FOR 2012! CHECK OUT PICS HERE
Latest News
11 Things You Didn't Know About Ludacris
Fear Factor On MTV: Check Out These Scary Sneak Peek Pics From The Premiere Episode Of The Brand New Series
Robert Pattinson Rocks Pink Hair On Wonderland Magazine Cover
Jared Leto’s Topless Selfie Is Literally The Best Thing You’ll See All Weekend
There’s A Sneak Peek At Rihanna’s New Fenty Beauty Holiday Collection And We Want Everything
Kem Cetinay And Chris Hughes Perform Live At Ministry Of Sound And Confirm Their Record Deal
Tyga Snapchats ‘That’s My Kid’ About Kylie Jenner’s Rumoured Pregnancy
Sophie Kasaei Admits She Hated Seeing Her Naked Boobs On Geordie Shore
Charlotte Crosby ‘Wasn’t Upset’ When She Bumped Into Gaz Beadle And His Pregnant Girlfriend Emma McVey
Aaron Chalmers Has Met Marnie Simpson's New Boyfriend Casey Johnson For The First Time
Kylie Jenner Reportedly Pregnant And Expecting A Baby With Travis Scott
Jennifer Lawrence Reacts To Shocking 'Mother!' Ending
Foo Fighters Score Their Fourth UK No.1 Album With 'Concrete and Gold'
Fergie Unleashes Incredible Visual Album: Double Dutchess
One Direction's Louis Tomlinson Proves To Be Niall Horan's Biggest Fan In The Cutest Way
Fans Have Started A Petition To Make Wonder Woman Bisexual In Upcoming Sequel
The Kardashians Recreated Their KUWTK Titles From Season One
9 Celebrity Couple Who Got Divorced For The Most Shocking Reasons
Vicky Pattison Shows Off Her Sensational Abs In Seriously NSFW Selfie
Skinnydip Have Collaborated With Starbucks For The PSL Accessories Of Your Dreams
More From X Factor
Harry Styles To Perform On The X Factor As Simon Cowell Is 'Keen To Have Him In A Guest Slot'
Are Cheryl And Liam Payne About To Return To The X Factor Together?!
The X Factor Is About to Go Through Some Major Changes People
From Will Young To Little Mix: 5 Of The Most Exciting Battles In Reality TV Music Competition History
The X Factor Is Going To Return With One Massive New Format Change This Year
Can Matt Terry Match 1D & Little Mix X Factor Success? "This Is My Chance & I'm Gonna Take It"
2016 X Factor Winner Matt Terry Talks Louis Tomlinson, Little Mix & More
The X Factor Winner Matt Terry Watched Geordie Shore’s Most Mortal Moments And It Was Epic
The X Factor Winner Matt Terry Reacts To Geordie Shore's Most Mortal Moments
X Factor Winner Matt Terry Denies Those Freddy Parker Kiss Rumours
From Little Mix to Ben Haenow: These Are The Most And Least Successful Winners of The X Factor Ever
The X Factor Week By Week Voting Figures Prove The Final Really Was A Close Call
Trending Articles
Charlotte Crosby ‘Wasn’t Upset’ When She Bumped Into Gaz Beadle And His Pregnant Girlfriend Emma McVey
13 Reality Star Relationships With A HUGE Age Gap
Holly Hagan Looks Unrecognisable In This Gorgeous Make-Up Free Selfie
Geordie Shore Spoiler Video: Gaz Beadle Gets Pied By Elettra Lamborghini As He Tries To Buck In The Radgies' Rome Sh*g Pad
Geordie Shore Season 15 Spoiler Video: Abbie Holborn Gives Elettra Lamborghini A Fanny Flash In Cheeky Lap Dance
Gaz Beadle Gets This Creative Tattoo In Tribute To His And Emma McVey's Unborn Son
Aaron Chalmers Has Met Marnie Simpson's New Boyfriend Casey Johnson For The First Time
Sophie Kasaei Admits She Hated Seeing Her Naked Boobs On Geordie Shore
Kylie Jenner Reportedly Pregnant And Expecting A Baby With Travis Scott
Jemma Lucy Pictured With Fluid Leaking From Her Bum After Second Brazilian Butt Lift
Tyga Snapchats ‘That’s My Kid’ About Kylie Jenner’s Rumoured Pregnancy
