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The X Factor returning to Seven

Seven has announced the return of The X Factor this year -and lowered the minimum age for contestants to just 14 years of age.

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Seven has announced the return of The X Factor this year.

Question marks had hovered over the return of the talent quest which was won by singer Altiyan Childs in 2010.

Despite not confirming any judges for the new season, auditions will start in just two weeks time.

The X Factor features either solo performers or groups mentored by judges as Boys under 25, Girls under 25, the over 25s and the Groups. The show is again produced by FremantleMedia Australia.

But in a surprising change to the format, the new minimum age for contestants has been lowered to just 14 years of age. This lowers the age of reality contestants from 16 years in such shows as Australia’s Next Top Model by two years, and into the spotlight of television and the media. Other shows such as Junior MasterChef have gone even lower but with strict guardianship.

The winner will again land a recording contract with Sony Music Australia.

Auditions will begin this month:

PERTH
Sunday March 27
Parmelia Hilton
Registration 9am-3.30pm

ADELAIDE
Tuesday March 29
AAMI Stadium
Registration 11am-6.30pm

BRISBANE
Saturday April 2
Sunday April 3
Gold Coast Convention Centre
Registration 9am-3.30pm

SYDNEY
Friday April 8
Saturday April 9
Sunday April 10
Australian Technology Park
Registration 9am-3.30pm

MELBOURNE
Friday April 15
Saturday April 16
Sunday April 17
Moonee Valley Racecourse
Registration 9am-3.30pm

More info is at www.xfactortv.com.au

Further details on the show, including judges, will be announced soon.

40 Responses

  1. Cool, I loved xfactor, it was the best last year….I know that a lot of people did not watch it because of previous seasons plus Masterchef being on the same time, otherwise can’t imagine the show having low ratings when the winner’s album has gone double platinum, sold our his ex band album that was on sale before the show (and still in demand) because people now know how good his orignal material is. Plus doing sell out concerts and still in high demand there too. It was the first time I bothered to buy a winner’s cd.

    As for lowering the age….as I usually don’t go on blogs etc but this time because I was really impressed by the winner, I did. I also checked out other contestants blogs and I could not believe the haterism on a lot of them. I thought that was sad because the contestants endure a lot of pressure and should be commended for their bravery in exposing themselves and giving it all they got on a show like this. It blew my mind that this was happening to talent show contestants!?

    I mean, if I didn’t like a contestant, I did not even think my opinion mattered. They obviously had their own fan base who supported them and would buy their albums if they won.

    Talent shows in the past all over the world have brought on wonderful artists but to start criticising them for nothing….well, that is so wrong.

    If bands like Bon Jovi who are amazing, still kicking butt, sellingout concerts and doing great things from humanity cop some critics, it really says something. Thank goodness they did not start out on a talent show.

    This kind of response would probably greatly scar a younger person and deter them from ever pursuing their singing career in the future. It could be someone who would be amazing providing that the pressure doesn’t rip them to shreds first.

  4. I was living in the UK when x factor first started in 2004. The first year was very average, while the format found it’s feet. In fact I’m not even sure what happened to the first years winner. But with some minnor tweaking in it’s 2nd year the quality went up and the rating went through the roof, making it must see tv every sat night! Please ch7 look at what the UK did to improve from series 1 to 2 and make similar changes. Having the host present for the auditions will make such a difference off the bat I think! Do what you can to make it must see TV, like making the live shows on a saturday night maybe and the results show on a Sunday night!

  6. the talent pool must be drying up? with AGT and Idol and now X factor!
    i think it will be improved with a new host…but please not Grant Denyer….I would say have Dannii as a judge but I’d rather see her return to the UK series, where she is hugely popular.

  7. I am so glad it is returning. I hope the quality of the show and audience ratings will improve this year. I also hope it won’t clash with Junior MasterChef as I love watching it too.

  8. Lowering the age limit? Everyone’s been calling for the limit of these shows to be raised, not lowered. The X Factor in particular is no environment for a kid to be exposed to due to its extra competitive nature. Shame on Seven for exploiting children as a solution to the total lack of talent from last year’s series.

  16. Oh god..more crap. Honestly must we subjected to this rubbish. Talentless hacks hamming it up on stage. And that includes the douche bag host and vile kyle.

  22. I’m surprised they changed the age limit. That’s half of what australias got talent is for. The first 3 seasons were won by teenage singers and 2 grand finalists in the 4th season. In America AGT and X are on different networks so shouldn’t care about each other hence the 12yo limit is ok.

    Anyway glad it will be back hopefully it will grow like MKR, AGT and beauty and the geek have lately and be the hit it should have been last year.

  24. I’m glad it’s returning but I’m very suprised by the lowering of the minimum age to 14 years. Last year’s winner was in his 30’s and had a well publicised “melt down”. Can a 14 year old handle the pressure and criticism? I don’t know.

  25. In America the minimum age is 12.

    Glad its returning. Hopefully having a host available in the audition episodes will give it that little extra that it was missing at the beginning of its run.

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