'X Factor' attracted 75,000 applicants this year, the most for a reality TV series to date, and 25,000 more than last year's series.
Returning judge Simon Cowell, whose production company Syco makes the series with Talkback Thames, said that 90% of the auditionees are "completely nuts" this year.
"It's basically a musical version of 'Little Britain'," he said.
Among the contestants who will be seen this year are middle-aged dairy farmer Justin, who on failing to get through the first set of auditions, returns in full drag as Justine to the surprise of the judges.
A 30-year-old factory worker called Robin, looking like a would-be 'Little Britain' character, murders Jet's 'Cold Hard Bitch' in a truly comedic performance.
There is, however, a pool of real talent. The judges -- Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne -- all agree they had found a potential superstar in the form of 16-year-old Alexandra from East London, who has been dubbed "a young Whitney Houston", while fellow 16-year-old Peter was tipped as the next Ronan Keating by Walsh.
Judges will get to work with the categories they missed out on last year. Cowell will handle either musicial groups or 16- to 24-year-old solo singers; Walsh will handle either 16-25 singers or 25 and over solo artists; and Osbourne will get either musical groups or 25+ solo artsists.
So far this year, ITV has tried and failed to come up with successful Saturday night formats. Earlier this year, the Vernon Kay-fronted 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' flopped with fewer than 3m viewers, and 'Celebrity Wrestling' was pulled from its primetime slot halfway through its eight-week run after attracting only 2m viewers.
This latest instalment of 'X Factor' certainly looks as entertaining, if not more so than last year's, which gave ITV an audience of over 6m each week.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the.
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
