ITV

Simon Cowell had been hyping it as the best series of the X Factor yet, but he may need to change his marketing approach as fans clearly don’t agree. The X Factor recorded some of its lowest debut ratings ever and dropped almost a million viewers from the previous series 11.

The new additions of Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw are receiving mixed reviews with the consensus seeing Ora earning praise and Grimshaw earning criticism. Most of the attention, however, has been directed at Cheryl Fernandez-Versini’s drastic weight lost with various speculation that the former star is anorexic.

It’s been touted as a disaster by many media outlets and I genuinely do see the X Factor finishing its run in the next couple of years. Cowell should be okay, Britain’s Got Talent continues to impress in the ratings. But what about poor Cheryl? She won’t starve, but she’ll struggle to find work with this high level of publicity and attention. Girls Aloud reunion? Again? Nope? Didn’t think so.