'The X Factor' is not expected to be back until "2022 at the earliest".
Simon Cowell
The ITV show hasn't been on air since 2019, and it is thought next year could come too soon for the programme's return.
An insider said: "ITV has decided that next year just isn’t going to be feasible for X Factor.
It’s been off air since 2019 now and it’ll be 2022 at the earliest, realistically, before it’s back."
Another series of 'All Star Musicals' - in which celebrities take to the stage at the London Palladium to perform an iconic music theatre number - is expected to take The X Factor's place in next year's schedule.
The insider added to The Sun newspaper: "They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, so hopefully this extended break does exactly that.
"'All Star Musicals' is the main contender to replace it as things stand."
This comes after 'X Factor' boss Simon Cowell broke his back earlier this year after falling off his electric bike.
In August, ITV's director of television Kevin Lygo admitted he wasn't certain if Simon would bring 'The X Factor' back next year, as there were no "definite" plans in place.
He said: "It's not definitely returning, it might return. The format will be tweaked. When we talk about format changes, it was our most successful entertainment show for a decade and you need to be wary of changes.
"I'm sure 'X Factor' will be back at some stage and it's really when is the right moment. Simon controls it - when does he want it to come back and how does he want it to come back? And hopefully we can be part of that."
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