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The Rest Is Entertainment
The Rest Is Entertainment

Is X Factor Back From The Dead?

September 16, 2026 • 32m

Summary

⏱️ 5 min read

Overview

Richard Osman and Marina Hyde dive into the business realities of television and entertainment, exploring why beloved shows like X Factor and Drag Race UK face cancellation despite seeming popularity, the surprising power of programs like Gardeners World, and the intricate world of book publishing from blurbs to release dates. The discussion reveals how economic pressures are reshaping the entertainment landscape and challenging assumptions about what actually succeeds.

The Economics Behind Show Cancellations: X Factor and Drag Race UK

The hosts examine why seemingly successful shows get axed, using X Factor and Drag Race UK as prime examples. They reveal that both shows fall victim to the same fundamental problem: production costs no longer justify the audience numbers they deliver. For ITV, X Factor became too expensive at around £1.5-2 million per episode, while also facing duty of care issues around humiliating contestants. The music industry no longer needs the show as a talent pipeline, and the "theatre of cruelty" that made it compelling is now a liability. Similarly, Drag Race UK, while beloved and noisy, doesn't deliver the numbers the BBC needs as budgets shrink and the target audience threshold rises.

  • X Factor was cancelled by ITV in 2021 after 17 years, and recent revival rumors are likely being stoked by those who would profit from it
  • The show would cost approximately £1.5-2 million per episode, as expensive as major shows like I'm a Celebrity
  • Duty of care concerns make the humiliation-based audition format problematic in today's environment, and many contestants still have ongoing complaints
  • The music industry no longer helps seed talent into the show as they once did, with labels previously providing trained contestants
  • Drag Race UK doesn't deliver sufficient audience numbers to justify its cost for the increasingly budget-constrained BBC
  • Because Drag Race is owned by World of Wonder rather than BBC Studios, there's no economy of scale benefit
" The world has moved on since humiliating people in that way in those audition rounds was sort of acceptable. "
" It's impossible to separate that format from the theater of cruelty out of which it sort of sprung. "

Gardeners World: The Unexpectedly Massive Hit

In a surprising revelation, Richard and Marina discuss how Gardeners World consistently outperforms expectations, often beating Would I Lie to You in the ratings with over a million viewers and an 11% share. The show demonstrates that mainstream assumptions about what's popular are often wrong, with programs like Antiques Roadshow and Countryfile delivering numbers far exceeding hot Netflix shows. As Monty Don prepares to leave, the discussion turns to potential replacements, with suggestions that a YouTuber-turned-broadcaster who genuinely knows gardening could be the perfect successor, following the pattern established by Grand Tour.

  • Gardeners World has 75% name recognition among the British public
  • Last Friday, Gardeners World got over a million viewers with an 11% share, competing against Would I Lie to You's 1.4 million
  • The show often ranks as the second most popular program on BBC Two on Fridays, after House of Games earlier in the week
  • Monty Don is leaving the show, prompting discussion about succession and the value of online gardeners with broadcasting experience
  • The show is both popular and cheap to produce, making it exactly what the BBC needs, with additional revenue from magazine and live event spin-offs
" Just because you don't watch it, it doesn't mean it isn't just doing unbelievable numbers, much bigger numbers than any hot show on Netflix that supposedly everyone is talking about. "

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