ITV sign new five year deal with Simon Cowell’s Syco renewing BGT until 2024 and X Factor until 2020

ITV sign new five year deal with Simon Cowell’s Syco guaranteeing Britain’s Got Talent will stay on the channel until 2024… but X Factor is only commissioned for one more year

ITV has signed a new five year deal with Simon Cowell‘s Syco Entertainment, ensuring that Britain’s Got Talent will be on-screen until 2024.

The channel announced that they will continue to show the Ant and Dec-fronted talent show for at least five more series, but only have only commissioned The X Factor to return in 2020.

It comes following reports that The X Factor could be axed despite Simon’s attempts the shake up the show, after this year’s Celebrity version earned the lowest ratings in the series’ 15 year history.

Amazing: ITV has signed a new five year deal with Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment, ensuring that Britain’s Got Talent will be on-screen until 2024

In a statement Simon said: ‘I am thrilled our relationship with ITV is to continue for the foreseeable future. ITV has always been home to Britain’s Got Talent, The X Factor – and me! – and this long-term commitment shows the mutual respect in our partnership.

‘I would, of course, like to thank Carolyn (McCall, ITV’s chief executive) and Kevin (Lygo, ITV’s Director of Television) for their ongoing support plus all the teams at ITV, Syco and thames for their hard work and dedication.’

Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Director of Television added: ‘We are delighted to have secured Simon for another five years with ITV.

‘His track record speaks for itself. He creates shows that bring the nation together, celebrating the talent and diversity of modern Britain and giving ordinary people with extraordinary talent the chance to find fame.’

Strong: The talent show - hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly (pictured) - has continued to bring in solid ratings for ITV

Strong: The talent show – hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly (pictured) – has continued to bring in solid ratings for ITV

Amelia Brown, Managing Director of Thames, said: ‘The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent are shows full of heart, enjoyed by the whole family. 

‘Both celebrate talent of all kind, from all walks of life and after 15 and 13 years respectively, we’re proud to make programmes which are much-loved staples of the ITV schedule. 

‘We are thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with the network to bring these shows into people’s homes across the UK.’

Britain’s Got Talent has continued to bring in solid ratings for ITV, with its most recent final earning 9.7 million viewers.

However The X Factor has seen its viewership plummet in recent years, and the first episode of its new series The Band saw rating stumble from 4.12m to 3.13m in just 90 minutes.

Struggling: However the deal has only seen The X Factor commissioned for one more series, after its celebrity version (pictured) brought in some of the lowest ratings in its history

Struggling: However the deal has only seen The X Factor commissioned for one more series, after its celebrity version (pictured) brought in some of the lowest ratings in its history

Sources told The Sun that the figures ‘signal the beginning of the end’ for the singing show, which has only been awarded a one-year contract in the new deal.

But a source told MailOnline: ‘The show performed well with younger audiences and despite the Question Time special this week being targeted at the under 30s, X Factor still pulled in 50% more of those key 16-34 year-old viewers!’ 

At its peak in 2010 The X Factor pulled in an average of 14 million viewers across the series, but its recent civilian series last year pulled in less than half that.

Strong: The most recent Britain's Got Talent final drew in 9.7 million viewers, while The X Factor has seen its rating plummet in recent years

Strong: The most recent Britain’s Got Talent final drew in 9.7 million viewers, while The X Factor has seen its rating plummet in recent years