-
Nicole Scherzinger has signed up to join the judging panel on the new series of The X Factor.
The singer will join Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and Tulisa Contostavlos on the talent show in a reported £750,000 deal.
The former Pussycat Dolls star replaced Cheryl Cole on the US version of the show after the Girls Aloud singer was dropped from the panel last year.
Bosses had been trying out a series of guest judges to replace Kelly Rowland on the UK show, including former Spice Girls Geri Halliwell and Mel B.
Chart-toppers Rita Ora and Anastacia have also taken turns on the panel judging the hundreds of contestants attempting to find fame and fortune on the ITV1 programme.
Nicole, who was born in Hawaii, is dating Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton and recently appeared in Men In Black 3.
-
ITV are reportedly preparing to retire The X Factor UK in favour of another "big event show".
Bosses at the channel are apparently concerned that they have "become too reliant" on the Simon Cowell contest, which took a tumble in the ratings for its eighth series last year.
"Every television network is always looking for the next big thing. They'd be crazy not to," an alleged senior source told the Daily Star. "X Factor has had a brilliant run, but no show lasts for ever.
"Over the past few years Simon Cowell has been the main source for many of our top hits but some feel that we've got too many eggs in one basket and we've become too reliant on one man."
However, ITV entertainment boss Elaine Bedell - who admitted recently to being "hungry for a big primetime weekend event show" - has said that commissioners have yet to find a format they feel confident about.
"The ideas need to have the production values of The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity and they need a major piece of talent," she explained.
"We get very few pitches for big event shows. They're risky to commission."
Auditions for series nine of The X Factor UK are currently taking place around the country.
-
Why did they pick Nicole she was rubbish on the US X-factor. They should have got Kylie to do it
-
The X Factor became the Axe Factor when 60 contestants were dumped from the show's boot camp section before they had the chance to sing.
Around 200 would-be stars had travelled to Liverpool in an attempt to make it through to the judges' houses round.
But they were gathered on stage at the city's Echo Arena and almost a third were sent straight home by judges Tulisa Contostavlos, Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow and Nicole Scherzinger.
A show source told the Sun: "It was carnage. They were told there would be an important announcement. They went out on stage to face Tulisa, Louis, Gary and Nicole - and then the bombshell. There were looks of shock on people's faces. Even the judges looked upset."
It is believed show supremo Simon Cowell ordered the move amid fears that too many average acts had been put through.
An X Factor spokesman said: "Some of the contestants who got a yes at their first auditions, when seen side by side against the others, were not of a good enough standard."
-
Shayne Ward, the series two winner of The X Factor, has hit out at his exclusion from a new promo campaign from ITV looking back at the show's history.
The 'Whose Time Is Now' video features Leona Lewis, One Direction, Olly Murs, Alexandra Burke, JLS and Little Mix talking about their X Factor experiences.
Watch the new X Factor trailer below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=oaas4T5PMzM
Acts including Ward and other series winners Matt Cardle, Joe McElderry, Leon Jackson and Steve Brookstein are not mentioned in the promo.
Commenting on the video on Twitter, Ward said: "Just seen the new X Factor promo video. Yet again it's like I'm being erased slowly from their history.
"Pathetic really. Would love to know why?"
Ward scored two platinum albums after winning the 2005 series of X Factor, however, his third record Obsession only reached number 15 in 2010 and the single of the same name charted at 97.
Meanwhile, Digital Spy readers have complained that the promo made it look like One Direction had won their series of the show, while actual victor Matt Cardle didn't even feature.
Also, Joe McElderry left a cryptic message on Twitter that many fans believed related to the video, writing: "I'm just gonna keep doing my thing :D #thatisall #loveforthemassive."
The ninth series of The X Factor will start next month on ITV1.
-
Shayne Ward, the series two winner of The X Factor, has hit out at his exclusion from a new promo campaign from ITV looking back at the show's history.
The 'Whose Time Is Now' video features Leona Lewis, One Direction, Olly Murs, Alexandra Burke, JLS and Little Mix talking about their X Factor experiences.
Watch the new X Factor trailer below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oaas4T5PMzM
Acts including Ward and other series winners Matt Cardle, Joe McElderry, Leon Jackson and Steve Brookstein are not mentioned in the promo.
Commenting on the video on Twitter, Ward said: "Just seen the new X Factor promo video. Yet again it's like I'm being erased slowly from their history.
"Pathetic really. Would love to know why?"
Ward scored two platinum albums after winning the 2005 series of X Factor, however, his third record Obsession only reached number 15 in 2010 and the single of the same name charted at 97.
Meanwhile, Digital Spy readers have complained that the promo made it look like One Direction had won their series of the show, while actual victor Matt Cardle didn't even feature.
Also, Joe McElderry left a cryptic message on Twitter that many fans believed related to the video, writing: "I'm just gonna keep doing my thing :D #thatisall #loveforthemassive."
The ninth series of The X Factor will start next month on ITV1.
-
X Factor's ninth series will kick off on August 18, it has been revealed.
Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh will start the search for Britain's next great musical star later this month. Spice Girls Geri Halliwell and Mel B, Anastacia, Rita Ora and Leona Lewis were guest judges during the audition rounds.
The show is currently scheduled to air between 8pm and 9.15pm, between a double bill of Ant & Dec's big-money gameshow Red or Black?
Dermot O'Leary returns to host for his sixth series, while Caroline Flack and Olly Murs will present ITV2 spinoff Xtra Factor for a second year.
It was revealed at the weekend that show bosses are considering a new twist to this year's final, which will include the acts duetting with legends such as Amy Winehouse, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson via 3D holograms.
Previous winners of the talent show have included Little Mix, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and Matt Cardle.
-
X Factor's ninth series will kick off on August 18, it has been revealed.
Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh will start the search for Britain's next great musical star later this month. Spice Girls Geri Halliwell and Mel B, Anastacia, Rita Ora and Leona Lewis were guest judges during the audition rounds.
The show is currently scheduled to air between 8pm and 9.15pm, between a double bill of Ant & Dec's big-money gameshow Red or Black?
Dermot O'Leary returns to host for his sixth series, while Caroline Flack and Olly Murs will present ITV2 spinoff Xtra Factor for a second year.
It was revealed at the weekend that show bosses are considering a new twist to this year's final, which will include the acts duetting with legends such as Amy Winehouse, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson via 3D holograms.
Previous winners of the talent show have included Little Mix, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and Matt Cardle.
-
Joe McElderry has insisted that he is fine with being excluded from The X Factor's new advertising campaign.
ITV unveiled its 'Whose Time Is Now' promo last month, featuring Leona Lewis, One Direction, Olly Murs, Alexandra Burke, JLS and Little Mix talking about their success since the show.
McElderry, along with fellow winners Shayne Ward, Matt Cardle, Leon Jackson and Steve Brookstein, were not included in the commercial.
"I'm not on Simon's [Cowell] label so I wouldn't expect him to promote me," McElderry told the Daily Star Sunday.
"If they want to erase the fact I won X Factor or try to hide it, I don't care.
"Personally I am proud I came from The X Factor. If Simon doesn't feel the same then you'll have to ask him why."
Ward recently hit out at his exclusion from the promo campaign.
He said: "Just seen the new X Factor promo video. Yet again it's like I'm being erased slowly from their history. Pathetic really. Would love to know why?"
-
Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh are to provide one of the more bizarre moments of this year's X Factor auditions.
The rival judges amused the Manchester audience when they danced to Labrinth's 'Earthquake' with a Zumba instructor hopeful.
Both panelists were taught signature moves from the Zumba specialist and "shimmied" their way to a standing ovation.
They eventually returned to the judges' desk to take their places alongside Tulisa Contostavlos and guest judge Mel B.
It was reported in June that Walsh riled the Manchester auditorium when he told the crowd to "shut up" during an exchange with Barlow over a male singer he didn't rate.
The X Factor returns for its ninth series on Saturday, August 18 on ITV1.
