The X Factor UK spoilers: Six-Chair Challenge twist leads to (predictable) result
When it comes to cultivating drama, we certainly understand why the show would want to throw this twist out there: It generates all sorts of meaty drama for them! However, simultaneously we do think that this twist does very little to actually help the show or get families aboard with watching it either in the UK or in its rebroadcasts here in America.
The biggest problem with the Six-Chair Challenge is that it completely reinforces one of the show’s biggest tonal issues: It takes itself extremely seriously, and it saps most of the joy from the contestants and the people trying to mentor them with its emphasis on drama. It’s bold, brash, and super-serious when instead it should be bringing the true personalities out of the singers (or at least trying to). When you are mercilessly beating them down with intensity and stress, we’re not sure that it’s the best environment to cultivating stars.
As a result of the new twist to the Six-Chair Challenge, plus the craziness of the crowd shouting and booing during the deliberations, the judges also get plenty of stress of their own. This explains further why Nicole Scherzinger ended up walking off her during part of the taping. Speaking per The Sun, a source had the following to say about what she decided to do:
“Nicole left the set upset as the situation was so intense and it all got too much for her. It was a long and stressful day and it wasn’t helped by the fact the crowd were not on Nicole’s side for some of her choices.
“Before filming had commenced, the audience were encouraged by the show’s production staff to be vocal about what they thought of her choices … They took this on board and were very loud, but unfortunately for Nicole at times it did mean a deafening shower of boos and jeers.”
While there may be some stressful elements of this part of the competition, ones that are amplified by splitting up the judges while they make their decisions, in the end the structure’s not going to be all that different this year from the past. Some singers will get cheers, some will be booed, and the judges will probably swap around contestants after feeling a great deal of pressure to do so by the crowd. It’s amazing that none of these contestants have any sort of heart attack on the spot in the midst of all this craziness.
Do you wish that something different was going to be happening when it comes to The X Factor UK and this phase of the competition? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comment!
Meanwhile, head over here in the event you want to get some other news when it comes to the show. (Photo: ITV.)