X Factor starts: Giorgia at the helm, the new Lauro, La Furia and Iezzi on the jury. The final in Naples

X Factor 2024 is preparing for a new season with a very prestigious surprise: the famous talent show will be hosted by Giorgia, a singer-songwriter of extraordinary talent and a symbol of humility and courtesy. “I have always been a fan of the program, I help young people in moments of fear and tension”, declared the singer, adding with her usual modesty: “I don’t know why I’m here, but I found a mix of friendliness and professionalism, and I was supported.” His arrival at the helm of the format represents an absolute novelty and promises to bring a breath of fresh air to the eighteenth edition of the program.

Produced by Fremantle, X Factor 2024 debuts Thursday night at 21:15 p.m. on Sky Uno and streaming on Now. The season includes 13 episodes and will culminate on December 5 with the grand finale in Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples, for the first time outdoors, a choice that marks a historic turning point for the show, usually broadcast live from the Teatro Repower in Assago and recorded at the Allianz Cloud in Milan.

“Luckily I’m not on the jury,” Giorgia commented ironically, acknowledging that the role of judge would not have been suitable for her: “I wouldn't be good at choosing or eliminating, empathy is important to me.” On the jury, the talent show will see the return of Manuel Agnelli, known for his rough sincerity, and three new entries: Achille Lauro, Jake La Furia and Paola Iezzi. Lauro, a multifaceted artist and glam icon, reiterated his subversive nature and his intent to find “uniqueness” in young artists. La Furia, a histrionic and ironic rapper, underlined the importance of fun and substance over form, while Paola Iezzi expressed enthusiasm for the program, declaring that she has always been a fan of X Factor.

Despite the strong personalities of Agnelli and Lauro, the four judges seem to have found a harmony, in stark contrast with the “conflicts” that have marked the past editions, such as the famous clashes with Morgan. Agnelli has declared that he wants “protect the fun” without falling into vulgarity, while Lauro reiterated his commitment to a lively but respectful debate. Paola Iezzi, in tune with Giorgia, explained: “X Factor is one of the few programs that talks about music in a truthful way. When they called me, I said 'wow'.”

The presentation of the new edition was held at Milan Central Station, a symbol of the journey that the program has undertaken over time. On the occasion of the event, a Frecciarossa train dedicated to X Factor, which will accompany the judges and finalists around Italy until the final in Naples, expected to be a great celebration of music.

Antonella d'Errico, Executive Vice President Content of Sky Italia, defined X Factor as one of the “three pillars” of Sky formats, together with Pechino Express and MasterChef. With Giorgia's talent at the helm and a renewed jury, X Factor 2024 promises to be one of the most anticipated editions ever.