Simon Cowell to launch new X Factor contest which will rival Little Mix's talent show

X Factor The Band, to find new all-male and all-female groups, will launch in 2020
Simon Cowell's new programme will focus on finding groups
PA
Isobel Frodsham4 November 2019

Simon Cowell has announced he is launching another version of the X Factor, which will provide direct competition to a rival talent show from Little Mix.

The music mogul, 60, told how he is planning to premiere X Factor: The Band, to find new all-male and all-female groups.

He announced the new offering as he also said the proposed X Factor: All Stars series, which had been set to premiere next month and feature previous winners including Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke, was no longer going to launch.

X Factor: The Band will be a direct rival to The Search, the talent show set to be launched by Little Mix on BBC1 next year.

New show: Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson of Little Mix
PA

Cowell, who helped launch Little Mix’s career on the X Factor and had them on his record label before a split last year, said he was relishing the competition.

He told The Sun: “This is what really happened. I was approached to co-produce that show last year by Little Mix’s management.

“I told them the problem was we have a conflict of interest because we are launching X Factor: The Band in 2020. We were told their show was going to launch in 2021.

Judges: Cowell is pictured with Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Dermot O'Leary
PA

“Then we had the fallout and find out Little Mix were bringing their show forward. Was that intentional because we are doing our show? I have no idea.

“But regardless, it was too much fun not to do this year. I would rather it was us doing it first.

“It 100% makes it more exciting there being a battle.”

The Search will see Little Mix – consisting of Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall – going back to their talent show roots to mentor new talent.

They won the 2011 series of The X Factor as a group, having been formed on the show after originally auditioning as solo singers.

The winner of The Search will have the opportunity to join Little Mix on their summer tour in 2020.

With reporting from Press Association.

Celebrity X Factor 2019: Official Line-up - In pictures

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