Music mogul Simon Cowell is said to be planning to bring the X Factor back to our TV screens.
The 62-year-old star allegedly wants to revive the ITV series in 2023 — five years after it last aired.
According to Daily Star, an industry source said: “It has been decided that the time is right to bring X Factor back. It’s really exciting. Everyone who will be working on the new series can’t wait to get started.”
Father-of-one Simon is said to have being having secret conversations with a production company about his plans and has reportedly "struck a big-money deal".
However, it's unsure if the new series would air on ITV or perhaps a different channel.
“Things are in the early stages at the moment. But the wheels are definitely in motion. It is hoped that production will begin at the end of the year," a source claimed.
X Factor originally kicked off in 2004 and ran for a total of 15 seasons, with an array of judges including Gary Barlow and Tulisa.
The final instalment aired in 2018, but there were two spin-off series in 2019.
And Simon apparently wants the show to return to its glory days, with an insider explaining: “Producers want to recapture the magic the show had when it was first on TV.
“The focus will all be on the competition element of the show, rather than the razzle dazzle.”
At its peak, X Factor brought in 19million viewers and is responsible for the major success of acts such as One Direction, Leona Lewis, and Little Mix.
The Mirror has contacted a representative for Simon Cowell asking for comment.
