Overview
- Production paused in October 2024 after Liam Payne’s death, with Cowell shown in tears recalling a call to Payne’s parents.
- Cowell says he nearly pulled the plug on the project over concerns about the format and the changed music landscape.
- He assembles contestants and their parents for a blunt briefing on fame’s pressures, stressing total commitment and resilience.
- Cameras capture a tense row with fiancée Lauren Silverman, who asks for her microphone to be removed during the exchange.
- A seven-member group called December 10 is unveiled with a first promo image; a deal with EMI/Universal and a 2026 launch are reported.