Union J singer Josh Cuthbert has said that he believes The X Factor needs a few more years off the air before it makes a comeback.

The music competition was a staple part of the ITV schedules for the best part of two decades but was dropped in 2019 amid flagging ratings.

Earlier this year it was reported that Channel 5 had agreed a deal to resurrect the format in 2023, although the news has yet to be officially confirmed.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Cuthbert, whose band featured in the 2012 edition of the show and recently reunited, said: "I heard about this and I'm not sure about it. I think you should let things, not die, that's very morbid, but I think you can overdo things.

"With the likes of Big Brother there has been a longer gap, so that's a better shout, but I think X Factor should have left it a few more years in my opinion."

Of a potential return to the judging panel for Louis Walsh - Union J's mentor on The X Factor - he added: "No, you've gotta mix it up. Louis.... I don't think his heart could take it. He's 70 now, well, he was 60 when he was our mentor so yeah I guess that was 10 years ago."

At its peak popularity The X Factor brought in over 19 million viewers for ITV.