Reports and Trademarks Suggest ITV and Fremantle Are Moving Toward an X Factor Revival

# What the story says Recent coverage indicates ITV and format owner FremantleMedia have been quietly preparing for a possible revival of The X Factor. The strongest concrete piece of evidence is a UK Intellectual Property Office trademark filing made by FremantleMedia in December 2025 for the phrase "It's A Yes From Me," a line closely associated with the show's judging style.

# Evidence pointing to planning The trademark filing predates the latest round of comeback reports and suggests preparatory steps were taken months earlier. Media outlets have reported that negotiations and concept work are underway rather than this being purely speculative chatter. The show last ran its regular series in 2018, and earlier reporting in 2021 said ITV had no current plans — the new filings and reporting indicate that position may have changed.

# How the format might change Sources cited in coverage say producers are exploring ways to bring The X Factor into current social media and streaming habits. Specific ideas mentioned include:

• recruiting a younger, social-media-savvy judging panel to connect with Gen Z and millennial viewers.

These concepts suggest the reboot would aim to adapt the competition show model to how music breaks and fandoms form today, rather than simply re-running the original format.

# Potential judges and Cowell's role Names reported as being considered for the judging lineup include RAYE, PinkPantheress, Yungblud, and former judge Cheryl. Reports also indicate Simon Cowell may remain involved in some capacity, though specifics of that role were not detailed in the coverage. These cast suggestions point toward blending established TV personalities with contemporary artists who have strong streaming and social footprints.

# Why this matters now At its peak, The X Factor was a major launchpad for artists such as Leona Lewis, One Direction, Little Mix, and JLS. That legacy explains why broadcasters and format owners would consider reviving the show if they believe a new version can attract large audiences and generate streaming-era relevance.

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