X Factor vote suffers 'attack of the Daleks'
- Publication: The Guardian
- Date: 2018-11-05
- Author: Jim Waterson
- Page: 11
- Language: English
The X Factor was forced to cancel its live public vote on Saturday night after sound issues left contestants with distorted robotic voices during the primetime ITV programme.
Two performances were ruined by the glitch, which caused sound issues during songs by Danny Tetley and Anthony Russell as well as distorting the voices of the X Factor judges, with some viewers comparing the experience to listening to Daleks.
An on-screen message told viewers "we are sorry for the temporary interference in sound" and confirmed that the vote would not take place as planned, with viewers instead allowed to vote for their favourite during last night's results programme.
The programme is usually broadcast live but had been pre-recorded to enable a judge. Robbie Williams. to catch a flight to South America, where he was due to play a long arranged gig in Chile. He is due to be replaced by Nile Rodgers for the coming episodes.
A spokesperson for ITV apologised and said the company was investigating why the distortion happened. The loss of premium-rate phone call income could mean a financial hit for the broadcaster, depending on numbers voting last night.
The X Factor, now in its 15th series, has struggled in the ratings in recent years. At its peak it regularly attracted more than 10 million viewers but recent episodes have drawn about million. Meanwhile, BBC Ones Strictly Come Dancing - broadcast earlier on Saturday evenings - has regularly broken the 10 million barrier.
Caption: A Dalek: singing not its top skill
Caption: Shan Ako performing The Sound of Silence on Saturday's X Factor. Others had performances ruined
Caption: Anthony Russell's performance was marred by distorted broadcast sound
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- APA 6th ed.: Waterson, Jim (2018-11-05). X Factor vote suffers 'attack of the Daleks'. The Guardian p. 11.
- MLA 7th ed.: Waterson, Jim. "X Factor vote suffers 'attack of the Daleks'." The Guardian [add city] 2018-11-05, 11. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Waterson, Jim. "X Factor vote suffers 'attack of the Daleks'." The Guardian, edition, sec., 2018-11-05
- Turabian: Waterson, Jim. "X Factor vote suffers 'attack of the Daleks'." The Guardian, 2018-11-05, section, 11 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=X Factor vote suffers 'attack of the Daleks' | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/X_Factor_vote_suffers_%27attack_of_the_Daleks%27 | work=The Guardian | pages=11 | date=2018-11-05 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=22 April 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=X Factor vote suffers 'attack of the Daleks' | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/X_Factor_vote_suffers_%27attack_of_the_Daleks%27 | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=22 April 2025}}</ref>
