Cheryl says X Factor would need big changes to return, including gender neutral option and scrapping ‘over 25s’-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro

Cheryl has laid out the reformatting that The X Factor would need if it was to return (Picture: Getty Images)

Cheryl has pondered the idea of The X Factor returning in future, and admits it would have to be massively reformatted.

The reality singing competition had the nation in a stranglehold for years, producing massive stars such as One Direction and Leona Lewis, and guaranteeing that whoever won would clinch the coveted Christmas number one track.

It’s now five years since the last series of the X Factor aired, and its final years had proved somewhat less of a must-watch than it had in its heyday.

That said, the nostalgic in us are always wondering if we could see Simon Cowell’s baby come back some day.

The question was put to Cheryl in a new interview with The Independent ahead of her first night acting in 2:22 A Ghost Story in London’s West End, to which she suggested it wouldn’t be the same anymore.

Thanks to streaming sites, she said it’s ‘not the same as when everyone was gathered on the sofa on Saturday because the X Factor was the biggest thing on TV.’

Cheryl was under major public scrutiny as she judged the series at the peak of its popularity (Picture: Getty Images)

The series produced some of the world’ biggest stars in it’s hey day, including One Direction (Picture: Getty Images)

She said it would have to be what the ‘public’ want, and that the show would need to be ‘totally reformatted.’

One thing that would need to go, she said, was the ‘over 25s’ category, saying it’s ‘inappropriate.’

(In fairness, it did make everyone over the age of 25 seem absolutely ancient at the time.)

Cheryl also suggested that the show’s binary formatting, with the categories including ‘boys,’ ‘girls’ and ‘groups,’ would have to be changed, saying there would ‘have to have a gender neutral option.’

The mum-of-one, who shares son Bear with former One Direction star Liam Payne, admitted the series would also need to pay more attention to the mental health of its contestants.

Going further, Cheryl suggested hopefuls who want to appear on the likes of high-profile shows such as The X Factor and Love Island should be ‘evaluated’ before they appear in a single episode.

‘You have to have a certain amount of mental strength to get through an experience like this,’ she said.

The pop icon has been giving a glimpse into rehearsals for her new West End show (Picture: Helen Murray)

Cheryl’s stint in the role begins Saturday night (Picture: Cheryl/ Instagram)

‘You’re going to be criticised daily, whether you like it or not, on social media.’

Away from The X Factor, Cheryl is now preparing to make her West End debut after clinching theleading role in 2:22 A Ghost Story, a role previously held by the likes of Laura Whitmore and Lily Allen.

The show tells the story of Jenny – now played by Cheryl – who believes her new home is haunted, while disbelieving husband Sam is having none of it.

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Cheryl will be starring in the role from January 21 until April at the Lyric Theatre in London.

The Fight For This Love singer is reportedly raking in £1,000 per night for her efforts – that’s £100,000 for the whole run. Not bad.

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