X Factor in crisis! Simon Cowell orders show to improve '10 per cent' each week, as Gary Barlow worries over 'awful' Frankie

By Sarah Hajibagheri and Holly Thomas


Can he save the show? Gary Barlow is ordered to improve ratings, as he worries over Frankie Cocozza's antics and 'awful' performance


Gary Barlow has revealed how Simon Cowell wants the X Factor to be boosted by '10 per cent' each week - as he admitted the judges had to 'up their game'.

The Take That star, 40, who took over from Cowell in the chief judge hot seat this series, said the show supremo had been in touch following last Saturday’s show, which suffered a two million drop in viewers from last year.

Cowell even insisted on a change of theme for this week - from Heroes to Rock - prompting a last minute change in songs and frantic production changes behind the scenes.


Barlow told the Daily Mail: 'We had a little drama this weekend.

'The one thing he said is if you can work at the show and make it 10 per cent better each week, by the end of the series the show will be 50 per cent better.

'That is what we are trying to do this week. We are all upping our game, we have had a lot of safety.'

Worse for wear: Frankie pulled his hood up and Charlie Healy clutched a bottle of water as they arrived at Wembley this morning

Recognise those? Janet Devlin wore the same tights as she arrived to Wembley that she wore on a night out to the Hard Rock Cafe earlier this week

In what can be considered a jibe at the X Factor USA, which has been trying to maintain ratings, Mr Barlow said: 'In fairness, I speak to Simon a lot and he has been very supportive of the new judging panel.

'He has got his own dramas going on over in the States.'

Barlow admitted he had been expecting fireworks from Cowell, 52, earlier in the series, saying: 'This, what we have had this week, I was expecting to get at the start.

Rolled out of bed? Frankie and The Risk were out partying together at the Mahiki lounge earlier this week

Still cheerful: Marcus Collins and Misha B looked in high spirits despite the early start

'This is about eight weeks later than I thought it would be.

'Here we are, we are still the number one show each weekend, we could do better. There is always room for improvement.'

Last week’s show pulled in a peak of 11.4 million on ITV1, down two million from last year, and Barlow said: 'There can be better song choices, better styling, better performances.'

You'll need more than a smile to pull in viewers: Tulisa replaced Cheryl Cole on the judging panel, but her rival drew in better figures

He also laid some of the blame at the feet of the contestants and said they had become too big for their boots.

The star, who is mentoring the boys, said: 'The trouble with the artists this year is they are all obsessed with twitter and headlines.

'It’s easy to get access to what is being written about you and it is corrosive.
'We are constantly reminding them that they are in a competition here. It is Saturday night, not Monday or Tuesday.

'You have to go on there and do it. It feel like they are all getting a bit above themselves.'

Behaving? Rhythmix haven't been seen out partying as much as some of the others this week

Taking things seriously? Sophie Habibis has said that she'd rather be known for her voice than her off stage antics- but has also been seen partying in recent nights

The star, who completed a 29-date European stadium tour before joining the X Factor admitted he found the live shows 'draining'.

Despite being in the public eye himself for almost 20 years, Barlow admitted: 'I found the live shows draining. It reminds me to when I was on this show as an artist.

'It is chaos and it drains you. It's just a really long weekend, it's a lot of pressure. I feel really sick before I go on.'

He also admitted he had a 'wobble' over Frankie Cocozza after last weekend’s 'awful' performance from the youngster, who nearly got the boot from the show.

Barlow said: 'He was awful. He deserved to be in the bottom two. He had a really bad performance. It was a disappointing weekend for us.'

Keeps to herself: Is Kitty Brucknell more focused on the competition that her fellow hopefuls?

However, he insisted Cocozza, who he admitted he had remonstrated with for partying, would improve this weekend.

Barlow said: 'On Monday morning I was thinking I'd made the wrong choice picking him. He's got the opportunity in his position in the show to really steal it. When he rocks he really goes.'

The trouble with the artists this year is they are all obsessed with Twitter and headlines,' Gary told The Sun.

'We are constantly reminding them that they are in a competition. I had a word with all my contestants and I know Kelly Rowland had a word with hers. It's reality check time.'

'We are all lucky to be here, we are lucky to be on stage and have millions of people watch us. You don't deserve this. We are lucky.'

Must have: Like many of her competitors, Kitty turned up this morning carrying a pillow

Gary also divulged his fears over Frankie to the Daily Star, confessing: 'the problem is I get to the house and he's got in at seven in the morning.'

He has admitted he was finding it difficult to step into the shoes of former judge Cowell.

Barlow admitted: 'I don't think any of us can compete with Cowell.

'He is the best at what he does. I'm certainly not trying to compete.

'But I'm trying to do my own thing and I'm confident that people will tune in week after week, especially as the contestants get less I think people will get more interested.'

Ready for bed: Kitty Brucknell and Sami Brookes looked tired today after it was revealed they had to change their songs for 'Heroes' week to 'Rock'

Barlow lambasted rival judge Louise Walsh and the Irishman’s contestant Johnny Robinson, saying: 'The joke is over for me with Johnny.

'I'm not like Louis. He's just here to have a good time on a Saturday night. I'm here to find a star - and it's not Johnny.'

He added: 'I think I have seen him [Walsh] once at the house with the contestants.

'He is in Dublin all week. He doesn't really care. He is here today showing his face, but he has got to be here, it is probably in his contract.'

Mixed feelings: Sami Brookes has been among the party goers this week, but Gary Barlow is said to be very unhappy with the inclusion of Johnny Robinson in the competition

Barlow said he had no idea if bandmate Jason Orange was dating comedienne Catherine Tate.

He said: 'I'm not going to comment. I'm made up for him if it's true but I don't know. I haven't even asked, private life is private.'

The Sun reports that Simon Cowell has also been making his feelings known to the production team.

During several conference calls Cowell has reportedly made it clear that he will return to the show next year to save the format.

An insider told the paper: 'Imagine a zeppelin plummeting to Earth in flames, on a collision course with an ammunition dump. That's this series of X Factor.'

Under strict instructions: The four judges have been ordered to improve the show by '10 per cent' each week


source:dailymail