X Factor fans have been campaigning to bring back the Xtra Factor.
If you’re wondering why Xtra Factor isn’t on tonight or where it is in the schedules, the spin-off to the main X Factor series has been axed.
ITV previously confirmed it won’t return in 2017 having accompanied the singing competition on ITV2 since 2004.
They explained the move was made in favour of more online content.
A spokesperson for ITV confirmed previously: “The X Factor is our biggest ITV entertainment show in terms of online engagement.
“We have taken the decision to move away from a linear switchover show and instead focus our efforts on our digital platforms, in support of the main show.”
Host of the main show Dermot O’Leary said this month: “I was sad, but I get it. We’ve made the X Factor for 14 years now but the way people watch the show has changed; now we have massive hits on YouTube compared to how it used to be, so you have to work harder on a show to keep people’s attention.
“Similarly, Xtra Factor started in a time when a lot of people watched that kind of show, but things have moved on. And we’re doing much more digital content instead.”
Following the start of The X Factor this month, many fans campaigned to #BringBackXtraFactor on Twitter.
“Bring back the #xtrafactor please ?? #xfactor” one begged.
Another asked: “@SimonCowell @Rylan please bring back xtra factor, its like ant without dec….just wrong…bring it back!!!!”
And a third agreed: “lets hope we get the #xtrafactor back #XFactor”
The last series of the Xtra Factor was hosted by Rylan Clark-Neal and Matt Edmondson together with Roman Kemp.
Speaking earlier this year to the Daily Mirror about the show’s demise, Rylan had said he was “Relieved.”
“Not in a horrible way,” he explained, “I love X Factor, I was born out of it, but I looked at it as a one-year thing… Maybe I’d have done it again, but then it was axed and I’m alright with that.
“It was the right time… It wasn’t like we ran it into the ground, we did a good series. It went out on a high.”
The X Factor 2017 continues on Saturday and Sunday night on ITV.
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