Host Dermot O'Leary has joked that the X-Factor is the "same old s**t every year".
The show returns this weekend for its celebrity re-boot - and Simon Cowell is desperate for a ratings boost.
The ITV hit has lost five million viewers since Little Mix won it back in 2011.
Light-hearted Dermot has meanwhile said the sacked judges were lured back by "fat pay cheques".
Simon joins returning Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh on Saturday night.
During a preview for the series, Louis was discussing how song choices are critical if a contestant stands a chance of winning the show.
Dermot then jumped in and said: "Same old s**t every year, isn't it?"
There was plenty of laughter ahead of what is a crucial series for the music mogul.
Louis said: "He's sacked me two or three times. I love doing the show, I love working with Nicole.
"I love working with Simon, and it's like a whole new X Factor , it's not like it was.
"The show is great fun, and it pays!"
One of the contestants has been saying a lot about the show too after a tweet from 2011 was unearthed.
Ben Foden said that the "terrible" X-Factor was on its last legs.
He tweeted: "Did Nicole Scherzinger just Meow????? Very weird??? X factor seems to be on the way out... terrible TV."
Now he is getting ready to take to the stage and will hope his comments don't get dragged up by the judges.
Simon knows it's an important time, saying: "You can't just keep making the same show that it was 14 years ago and expect it to be the same show today.
"You've got to take a step back for a little while."
"It just felt so obvious to do a celebrity version. The only condition was I couldn't know who was going to be on it.
