"The X Factor doing what it does best"

It seems like only last week that Megan McKenna was crowned The X Factor: Celebrity champion...oh wait - it was. Well tonight, Simon Cowell pumps out a second spin-off from the original concept with The X Factor: The Band.

He's gone back to where it all began and is again looking for undiscovered talent to form a pop group to sign to his record label and hopefully follow in the footsteps of One Direction, Fifth Harmony and Little Mix.

X Factor groups have sold more than 400 million records to date...so I think I know why he's chosen this format yet again.

Alongside the pearly-white-toothed music mogul on the judging panel is his buddy and rejuvenated Pussycat Doll, Nicole Scherzinger:

The X Factor: The Band kicks off on Virgin Media One & ITV @8.30pm this evening, but will only run for two more episodes (Wednesday the 11th & Friday the 13th) before Sunday's Live Final @8pm.

That's right, @Tallia_Storm today could be the first day of your new life and we're super excited for this!

Tune in to #XFactorTheBand at 8:30pm TONIGHT on @ITV and @WeAreSTV to see if Tallia can get one step closer to her dream of being in a girl band pic.twitter.com/QsqcgGrysS

— The X Factor (@TheXFactor) December 9, 2019

But will it reach the dizzying heights of the glory days? I think not. Soz Si.

 

Maria's Telly also tells us a couple more bits to check out on the box this week:

The Royal Variety Performance - Tuesday @7:30pm on Virgin Media One/Itv

Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan host the annual entertainment extravaganza from the London Palladium, attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The show features music from Robbie Williams, Jamie Cullum, Emeli Sande, Lewis Capaldi, the Kanneh Masons and Mabel, as well as this year's Britain's Got Talent winner, Colin Thackery, and comedy from Frank Skinner, Kerry Godliman and Flo & Joan. There are also appearances by the casts of West End shows Groan Ups, Mary Poppins and Come from Away, and dance spectacle from Zurcaroh and Cirque du Soleil

The Apprentice: The Final Five - Tuesday @10:45pm on BBC One

If you've been following Lord Sugar's latest protégés, then you'll be sold on this in-depth profile of the five candidates who have made it through to the 2019 final of the business challenge. Featuring contributions from family and friends, as well as Alan Sugar's faithful aides Karren Brady and Claude Littner, who offer their assessment on how the finalists have fared so far

Catch Maria's Telly in full by pressing the play button on screen.