PBS, the Maltese national broadcaster, has confirmed that the second season of X Factor Malta will begin on October 6.
Auditions have been taking place throughout Malta over the past few months with the Six-Chair Challenge being filmed on September 20 and 21. The judging line up for X Factor Malta contains no changes from the first series. Howard Keith, Ira Losco, Alexandra Alden and Ray Mercieca all remain on the panel for the upcoming season. Furthermore, Ben Camille will be returning for a second season as the show’s presenter.
It has not been confirmed as to whether the show will be used to select the Maltese participant in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The X Factor Malta replaced the existing Malta selection format, Malta Eurovision Song Contest.
The Malta Eurovision Song Contest also previously known as the Malta Song Festival had been used to select Malta’s Eurovision entry since their debut in 1971. The selection had undergone a number of revamps in recent years including the introduction of televoting and cutting out the semi-final stages.
Michela Pace won the first season of X Factor Malta and represented Malta in Tel Aviv this year. She finished 14th in the final with “Chameleon”, scoring a total of 107 points.
Source: X Factor Malta
Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest
Malta debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 and was represented by Joe Grech and the song “Marija L-Maltija”, which finished last. Malta competed again in 1972 and 1975 but then withdrew until their return in 1991. During the 1990s Malta only once finished outside of the top 10, and in 1998 they came within just 7 points of victory. It was Chiara who brought the country their 3rd place finish in 1998, and who went on to finish in 2nd at the 2005 contest in Kyiv. The only other artist to finish 2nd for Malta is Ira Losco, who was 12 points away from victory in 2002. They are the longest participating country never to have won the Eurovision Song Contest.
