Another week, another shake-up for The X Factor – and this time it looks like boot camp is getting a revamp, or rather, heading back to its roots.
For the past three years, the ITV singing contest’s boot camp round has been held at Wembley Arena, but up until then it was notorious for seeing hopefuls get up to all kinds of antics at a country house location, including boozing and making moves on their competition.
Now, according to The Sun, head judge Simon Cowell is keen to recreate the atmosphere of the past by taking boot camp back to the luxury hotel setting, and reportedly giving the contestants free alcohol.
The move is thought to be a ploy to pick up higher ratings as it brings the reality TV aspect of the series back to the show.
Other changes to this year’s format will include the judges’ houses round aired live, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw replacing Mel B and Louis Walsh on the judging panel, and a switch around in presenters.
Dermot O’Leary has chosen to leave the show and will be replaced by former Xtra Factor hosts Olly Murs and Caroline Flack, while spin-off The Xtra Factor will see Rochelle Humes and Melvin Odoom present instead of Sarah-Jane Crawford.
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