The X Factor's ratings slide has continued with Sunday's final pulling in 2 million fewer viewers than last year.

X Factor winner James Arthur is eager to release an album "as quickly as possible" and has already written some tracks.

Confessions of the shy and retiring type

Viewers have deserted in droves since Simon Cowell stopped judging two years ago

The X Factor saw its semi-final audience plummet with 2.6 million fewer viewers than last year, while rival Strictly Come Dancing continued to be a step ahead.

Gary Barlow might be resigning. Louis Walsh has insulted Adele. And the king of the show only pops in occasionally. This fan says she's had enough

Martin Gore said the X Factor boss should be shot for his influence on the music industry

TV star Amanda Holden says fellow Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams is nervous but excited about becoming a father for the first time.

The music mogul tweeted: 'Ella! Gone??? Unbelievable'

He is the campaigning film-maker who exposed McDonald’s contribution to obesity by gorging on Big Macs, then tried to track down Osama Bin Laden.

I believe I could have had a career in the music industry without the X Factor But it was an amazing platform that propelled me to what's happening now. I won't listen to anything people say [against] it. I got up every week and sang on stage without that lip-syncing that a lot of artists do these days – that takes a talent that you can't fake.

Mitt Romney has already lifted one American out of poverty. Eric Hartsburg, from Indiana, recently used eBay to sell "tattooing rights" to his face. A wealthy Republican paid $15,000 (£9,300) for Mr Romney's campaign logo to be inked on his right temple. "I don't mind," the (Romney-supporting) Mr Hartsburg told reporters. "It's something I believe in." Let's hope he feels the same way in 20 years.

Simon Cowell is going to the dogs - with a TV show for performing pets.

The Football Association video reviewers must surely have Monday as a double-shower day, the second one coming immediately after the kind of shift which yesterday included analysis of allegations that Robin van Persie delivered an utterly gratuitous cheap shot to Yohan Cabaye and Robert Huth stamped on Luis Suarez.