05 September 2013
Newsdesk
Sharon Osbourne’s return as a judge may have helped to lift the ratings of the talent show, but ticket demand for last year's winner James Arthur remains flat, according to ticket marketplace Seatwave.
Demand for tickets to see Arthur perform is comparable to the level seen for previous winners, Matt Cardle, Joe McElderry and Leon Jackson, who were all later dropped by Simon Cowell's Syco label. Figures show that ticket demand for the X Factor 2014 tour is currently around 200 times that of James Arthur’s tour.
Louise Mullock, spokesperson for Seatwave, said: “Sharon’s return is great news for the show – boosting ratings. However, the winner’s curse seems to be firmly stuck in place as the show’s runners-up continue to outperform those who supposedly had the X Factor.
"Warning signs are there for James Arthur - the level of ticket demand we have recorded is similar to X Factor winners who were later unceremoniously dropped by Simon Cowell."
