X Factor (UK) 2012

[Perdita]

Louis Walsh is the second judge confirmed for the 2012 series of The X Factor.

Walsh will make his ninth appearance on the judging panel whe the show returns to ITV1 at the end of the summer. He joins Take That's Gary Barlow, who announced that he was returning last month.

The Irish music mogul, who has managed acts such as Boyzone, Westlife and X Factor finalists Jedward, is the only judge to appear on every series of The X Factor.

"It's my ninth year on the show and I'm delighted to take my seat once more on the judging panel," said Walsh.

X Factor boss Simon Cowell said: "The show wouldn't be the same without Louis. I'm really happy he is coming back."

Co-star Barlow commented on Twitter: "I hear there's a lovely lad from Ireland joining me on X Factor. Congrats Louis! One of these years you'll be head judge."

Walsh was famously ditched from X Factor in 2007, when he was replaced by choreographer Brian Friedman. However, Cowell quickly reinstated Walsh after only a couple of days of auditions, confessing that he had made a "big mistake" dumping his co-star and friend.

Tulisa Contostavlos is expected to be announced as the third X Factor judge soon, but a replacement for Kelly Rowland, who confirmed her departure this week, remains up in the air.

Dannii Minogue is Digital Spy readers' pick to fill the vacant fourth judge slot.

X Factor filmed auditions begin on May 23, so all four judges must be confirmed before that date.

Peter Fincham, ITV's director of television, said: "Louis is, quite simply, an X Factor institution. It's great to have him back for this year's run."

Richard Holloway, managing director at Thames, added: "Louis's wealth of experience in the music industry, coupled with the fact he has been on every series of The X Factor, makes him a fantastic judge and mentor."

[Perdita]

Pop sensation Katy Perry is to be the fourth X Factor judge after a work clash ruled out Dannii Minogue.

The I Kissed A Girl singer impressed boss Simon Cowell, 52, when she *appeared as guest judge two years ago.

Now Katy, 27, is about to replace Kelly Rowland, 31, and is said to be delighted about joining the hit ITV1 Saturday night show.

Katy has few work commitments for the coming year after her plans to have a baby were dashed by the collapse of her 14-month marriage to comedian Russell Brand, 36. She is also keen to take a break from America to *escape the spotlight around their divorce.

The X Factor is *finalising the deal. A show insider said: “Simon and the *producers are really keen to get Katy, she was excellent last time. Advanced talks are taking place.” Dannii, 40, who has just broken up with boyfriend Kris Smith, 33, was top of the list to replace Kelly.

But mum-of-one Dannii, rocked by her romance with Cowell being made public, is a judge on Australia’s Got Talent which clashes with X Factor. Judges Gary Barlow, 41, Louis Walsh, 59, and Tulisa Contostavlos, 23, are all returning to X Factor.

[Perdita]

Rod Stewart has reportedly signed up to guest judge The X Factor.

Filmed auditions start in Liverpool on Wednesday but bosses are still searching for a permanent replacement for Kelly Rowland after Dannii Minogue rejected a £1m offer to return.

Producers are said to be worried that it is too late to secure an A-list star like Katy Perry and fear they could end up with Sinitta on the judging panel.

"Rod is a genuine living legend and exactly what the show needs. The details are still to be ironed out but it looks like he'll be at the auditions next month in London and possibly Glasgow because of his Scottish heritage," a source told The Mirror.

"He's sold more than 100 million records worldwide so he knows exactly what it takes to succeed in the tough world of showbusiness, and hopefully he'll also be a big draw for viewers who might not have been fans of The X Factor before.

"It's a big coup to get him involved and Simon Cowell is absolutely thrilled."

Plans to hire Perry, who proved popular as a guest judge in 2010, were apparently sidelined as bosses pursued Minogue.

"Katy was a big hit with viewers when she appeared on the show, but Simon didn't act fast enough to land her for this year," the source added. "It looks like getting her now is impossible because of her other commitments.

"We have known there was an empty space to be filled for months, but it has become more and more obvious over the last 24 hours that nobody has any idea who will fill the empty slot.

"Simon had put all his eggs in one basket with Dannii Minogue, and now everyone is scratching their heads wondering who they can get. Nobody wants another boring last-minute filler like Carmen Electra, but it's almost impossible to get an A-list star with just a few days' notice."

Estelle, LeAnn Rimes and Westlife singer Kian Egan are among those being considered for the job.

Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow and Tulisa Contostavlos will return to The X Factor, as well as host Dermot O'Leary.

[Perdita]

Geri Halliwell is to join the X Factor panel as a guest judge this week.

The former Spice Girls singer will sit alongside Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and Tulisa Contostavlos when filmed auditions begin later this week, according to The Mirror.

"Geri certainly isn't afraid to speak her mind and that's exactly what the show needs," a source told the paper. "She was in the Spice Girls, one of the biggest bands in pop history, so she knows exactly what it takes to succeed in this industry.

"She's a tough cookie and has dealt with everything the music business has thrown at her, so she's well qualified to spot contestants who have the talent and the personality to make it... no doubt her feisty personality will make for some brilliant television."

X Factor bosses are currently seeking a fourth permanent judge to complete the panel after Dannii Minogue reportedly declined an offer to return to the show last week.

Rod Stewart, Robbie Williams and No Doubt musician Gwen Stefani have also been linked with X Factor guest judging slots.

Halliwell previously stood in as a guest panellist two years ago when Minogue was pregnant with son Ethan, and was reportedly booed by audience members in Glasgow.

Filmed auditions for The X Factor begin on Wednesday (May 23) in Liverpool.

[tammyy2j]

A report in the Sun said that some hopefuls, such as more established acts, had been invited to fast-track auditions separate from everyone else.

A spokesperson said that although acts with management deals were now able to try out, everyone still had to go through the same process.

To see the judges, acts must first audition for the show's producers.

A spokesman said: "All acts have to apply and go through the same process as every other act.

"All acts are auditioned on their own merits and the judges then decide who goes through to the live shows."

For the first time this year, music managers and talent scouts have been told their acts can apply for the new series.

That means that singers and groups are eligible even if they already have a management deal, or have had one in the past.

However, the show said the new rules didn't give any guarantee that anyone would get past the initial producer auditions.

Potential stars were also able to skip the open audition days this year by uploading a performance via Facebook or YouTube.

The ninth series of the singing show returns to ITV at the end of the summer.

[tammyy2j]

X FACTOR chiefs are desperate to sign sexy number one chart sensation Rita Ora as the new judge on their show.



Supremo Simon Cowell believes the street-wise 21-year-old blonde would be an excellent rival to Tulisa Contostavlos.




Her single R.I.P. is currently number one and she has worked with Jay-Z, 42, will.i.am, 37, and Kanye West, 34.




Cowell, 52, has also short-listed Alicia Keys and Avril Lavigne to fill the one vacant seat still left on the panel.





The ITV show has been thrown into turmoil after judge Kelly Rowland, 31, the former Destiny’s Child singer, quit last month.




Producers thought they could lure ex-panellist Dannii Minogue, 40, back but she turned them down.




Auditions for the new series begin tomorrow in Liverpool.




A raft of guest judges from the pop world, including Geri Halliwell, 39, and Robbie Williams, 38, will now join the others including Gary Barlow, 41, Tulisa, 24, and Louis Walsh, 59. But TV chiefs are desperate to sign another pop star to join the show full time when it goes live in the autumn, and top of their list is Rita.




The Balkans War refugee, who is dating Rob Kardashian, 25, clearly has the X Factor because she recently got a smacker from Rihanna, 24.




But Rita, who is currently working on her debut album, is not the only one in hush-hush talks for the post on the top-rated show.




Bosses also have their eye on American R&B singer Alicia, 31, who has sold more than 30million records and whose hits include Empire State Of Mind.




And Canadian star Avril Lavigne, 27, who has scored smashes with Complicated and Sk8er Boi, is also on the hit list.




A source said: “The clock is ticking to grab someone fast.




“When you sign up to be a judge on The X Factor you’re giving up five months of your life so your diaries need to be cleared for the rest of the year.”




Last night a spokeswoman for the said: “All names are pure speculation at this point.”

[Perdita]

Leona Lewis has been confirmed as the next X Factor UK guest judge.

The 'Collide' singer, who won the third series of the ITV competition in 2006, will join regular panellists Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh at auditions in London starting tomorrow (May 26).

Lewis will take over from Geri Halliwell, who joined the judges for try-outs in Liverpool and has been rumoured to become a permanent fixture on the show.

Speculation that Lewis would judge The X Factor emerged yesterday (May 25) in a report that also named Mel B and Rita Ora as potential future panelists.

The 'Bleeding Love' artist has recently appeared as a guest mentor on the Swedish version of The X Factor.

Guest judges are being sought for the ninth series of the UK contest after Kelly Rowland departed the show and Dannii Minogue rejected a rumoured £1m offer to return.

[Perdita]

Rita Ora will guest judge The X Factor, it has been confirmed.

The 'R.I.P.' singer will join the panel for tomorrow's (May 28) auditions in London, as had previously been rumoured.

"Or-some news! We can officially reveal that Brit babe and RIP singer Rita Ora will be guest Judging tomorrow in London. #GuestJudgesRule," the X Factor Twitter account confirmed.

Ora follows Geri Halliwell and former winner Leona Lewis, who guest judged in Liverpool and London respectively.

X Factor bosses are still searching for a permanent replacement for Kelly Rowland, who confirmed her exit in April.

Simon Cowell reportedly wants Ora to join the panel full-time, while current judges Louis Walsh, Tulisa *Contostavlos and Gary Barlow have called for Sharon Osbourne to return.

A source close to Ora said that the job is "hers to lose" after she impressed producers during meetings.

Mel B and Tinie Tempah are also rumoured to have signed up to guest judge The X Factor.

[Perdita]

Nicole Scherzinger has been confirmed as the latest X Factor guest judge, Digital Spy can reveal.

The Pussycat Doll singer and former X Factor USA judge will be the latest star to fill the fourth spot on the panel, following stints from Geri Halliwell, Leona Lewis and Rita Ora.


"I'm super excited to be back in London for The X Factor!" said Scherzinger, who was a guest judge during the auditions and Boot Camp stage of the 2010 series.

"Last time I was here we found One Direction and I can't wait to find more unique and interesting talent here in the UK."

Following the departure of Kelly Rowland, a full-time fourth judge has yet to be found. Geri Halliwell and Rita Ora are reportedly in the running to get the gig full-time. However, the Spice Girl apparently failed to gel with Louis Walsh, Tulisa Contostavlos and Gary Barlow during her guest stint in Liverpool.

Ora has been impressive during her stint on the panel in London, but her lack of experience may count against her getting the job permanently.

The X Factor auditions continue today at London's O2 with Ora appearing in the morning session and Leona Lewis in the afternoon. Scherzinger will appear tomorrow at the O2.

[tammyy2j]

It sounds like they are auditioning potential full time judges who ever gets on the best as a guest judge gets the job full time