Los Angeles - Simon Cowell has ordered The X Factor bosses to make urgent changes to the show.
The music mogul - who left the UK version of the show to start up a US adaptation - wants former creative director Brian Friedman to make a return to the British show to make sure dance routines and the feel of the show are back at their best.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: ''Simon has made it clear that things have got to change and The X Factor must be the number one show on TV without question.
''Last year it was embarrassing being beaten in the ratings some weeks by Strictly Come Dancing, with all the buzz about the BBC show instead of his. Simon won't allow that to happen again and he wants Britain back on board to help the show look outrageous and unbelievable.''
Brian moved to the US show with Simon and was once briefly a judge on the UK show at the audition phase.
In addition to the dance routines he also wants the styling to change, and has not renewed the contract of head of make-up Natalya Nair.
The show is due to return to TV screens in the autumn.