Simon Cowell left his fellow judges Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger to launch the next series of The X Factor. The judging line up this year is extremely different to last year – with Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora quitting after just one series, and Cheryl Fernandez Versini bowing out as well.
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Host Dermot O’Leary admits the returning judge bears a certain resemblance to House of Cards’ Machiavellian lead Frank Underwood.
Show boss Cowell missed the event at a central London hotel to focus on America’s Got Talent.
He was in the audience to take part in the spin-off show and instead of just staying in his seat like everyone else he jumped up on stage.
The new panel made of familiar old faces (Picture: ITV) Among the auditionees we can expect to see are a “living doll” and a woman who storms into an audition uninvited.
The former Pussycat Dolls star added some edgy accessories to dress up her look, including white strappy heels, stacks of quirky bangles and statement earrings.
The duo will be joined in the studio by contestants who have appeared on the preceding main show, as well as a panel of celebrity guests, to share their thoughts along with the audience and viewers at home via social media.
And speaking about his partner in crime Louis, whom Simon is often seen disagreeing with, along with the rest of the panel, the 56-year-old music mogul said: “Me and Louis have a relationship that goes back a long way”.
“Caroline’s a really good girl, I don’t know why people didn’t like her”.
“There is definitely a touch of Frank Underwood about him”, O’Leary laughed to RadioTimes.com at today’s X Factor red carpet launch, where the pair were both back after skipping last year’s series. The judging panel is ideal. It is a joke and I think it should be treated as such. You very rarely see him’.
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And he said of the show: “It doesn’t feel real yet, and we’re live in two days”.
