Simon Cowell<\/a>: The Next Act has been called ‘dated, derivative and as flat as his hairdo’ in a number of scathing reviews – and critics have\u00a0accused the music mogul of ‘rehashing The X Factor<\/a> for the billionth time’ with the brand new Netflix<\/a> documentary.\u00a0<\/p>\n The six-part series, which follows the record executive try and find the next big boyband, landed on the streaming service on Wednesday 10 December.\u00a0<\/p>\n Over the years, Simon has created a number of successful groups and solo artists, including One Direction<\/a>, Little Mix<\/a>, Susan Boyle<\/a> and Westlife<\/a>\u00a0– which are\u00a0all down to shows such as ITV<\/a>‘s X Factor and the Got Talent franchise.<\/p>\n But will The Next Act be able to find talent just like those previously mentioned?<\/p>\n On the show, Simon is joined on-screen by his wife Lauren Silverman<\/a>, 48, – who he married in 2013 – as well as a number of music industry professionals.<\/p>\n The likes of Savan Kotecha, Kamille, Poo Bear, Pete Waterman and Robert Stevenson appear on the doc alongside the entrepreneur.\u00a0<\/p>\n Simon Cowell : The Next Act has been called ‘dated, derivative and as flat as his hairdo’ in a number of SCATCHING reviews – and critics have accused the music mogul of ‘rehashing The X Factor for the billionth time’ with the brand new Netflix documentary<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The six-part series, which follows the record executive try and find the next big boyband, landed on the streaming service on Wednesday 10 December<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On the show, Simon is joined on-screen by his wife Lauren Silverman, 48 (pictured) – who he married in 2013 – as well as a number of music industry professionals<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Netflix’s synopsis reads: ‘Simon Cowell is looking for the next hit boy band. And he’s risking it all to find them.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Will these young singers prove he’s still got the Midas touch?’\u00a0<\/p>\n Many have already binge-watched the docu-series, including a number of critics, and they have shared what they think about it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Metro<\/a>‘s Jon O’Brien writes: ‘It\u2019s been four years since The X Factor was finally put out of its misery and a good dozen since its halcyon days, a period in which pop music, and its star-making methods, have significantly moved on from the bog-standard TV talent show.<\/p>\n ‘Unfortunately, no one seems to have told Simon Cowell.’<\/p>\n Meanwhile The Telegraph<\/a><\/span>‘s Anita Singh’s headline states: ‘Simon Cowell\u2019s comeback series is as flat as his hairdo.’<\/p>\n She adds: ‘Netflix attempts to recapture that X Factor magic, but this vanity project feels dated and derivative.’\u00a0<\/p>\n The Guardian’s Stuart Heritage describes the doc as ‘the billionth take on his one idea’.<\/p>\n Will Simon Cowell: The Next Act be able to find a boyband similar to Simon’s previous success stories such as One Direction?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n He continues: ‘Now we know, for here comes the bait and switch. Even though it might be presented as a slice-of-life reality documentary, Simon Cowell: The Next Act is \u2013 wait for it \u2013 The X Factor. It\u2019s literally just another bloody X Factor.<\/p>\n ‘No, really. One minute Cowell is semi-candidly bickering with his partner, Lauren Silverman, the next he\u2019s junked that entire facade to find a new boyband. He holds auditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘He takes them to bootcamp. He uses pictures of their faces to decide who he wants to send home.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘There are unbelievably weak sob stories (one contestant, and please ready the hankies for this, works at a Nando\u2019s).\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Short of Louis Walsh stumbling in to absent-mindedly take everything to deadlock, this is The X Factor. I cannot overstate this enough.<\/p>\n ‘It\u2019s Cowell\u2019s one idea, for the billionth time, in slightly different clothes.’<\/p>\n Grazia<\/a>‘s Nikki Peach says: ‘The toxic 2010s called, they want Simon Cowell back.’\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n She adds: ‘A few episodes later, it becomes apparent that Simon\u2019s influence and relevancy has plummeted in the last decade; he\u2019s pushing 70 and he wants to prove to himself (and his 11-year-old son) that \u2018he\u2019s still got it\u2019. Ah-ha, there it is.<\/p>\n Over the years, Simon has created a number of successful groups and solo artists – which are down to shows such as ITV ‘s X Factor and the Got Talent franchise<\/p>\n<\/div>\n ‘Simon Cowell: The Next Act is a vanity project \u2013 and a glossy, big budget one at that. It\u2019s as much about his next act as it is about finding the next big boyband. He always did have a way with words.’<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/12\/10\/15\/104611249-15371081-image-a-4_1765381902379.jpg\")
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