Richard Holloway, executive producer of The X Factor, will meet Simon Cowell for a "crisis summit" in January to see if he will return to the judging panel.
Simon Cowell quit the programme to concentrate on setting up The X Factor USA last year but Holloway is keen to lure him back: "I'd love him to come back. He's the best judge in the world, Never say never! If we can find a way to reintroduce him, we will. But it is impossible for him to be in two places."
However, Holloway also said: "There is not one element we will not be looking at carefully - from judges and start times to auditions and glitzy productions."
A number of changes are expected for next year, and Richard admitted he would prefer the programme to air earlier, to compete with Strictly Come Dancing.
He explained: "This is a bit of a raw nerve. The X Factor is a family show. If I could pick my start time, it would be 7pm on Saturday and Sunday. At the latest we should be off air at 9.30pm. It allows the kids to stay up, and older ones to watch and then go out and drink; 10pm is too late and our larger shows are coming off air at 10.30pm."
Richard insists bosses are desperate for the 10th anniversary series to be "amazing" and he believes this year's winner James Arthur will inspire more wannabes to audition: "We have thousands and thousands of applicants wanting to audition for next year. James Arthur will inspire people with similar acts."
