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Changes Ahead For ITV1’s The X Factor

By Ian Cullen Aug 19, 2010, 4:56 GMT

Nicole Scherzinger of the US walks in paddock at the Gille Villeneuve race track, in Montreal, Canada, 13 June 2010. Hamilton came in first followed by Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso. EPA/VALDRIN XHEMAJ

Saturday will see the launch of yet another season of hit UK talent contest, The X  Factor, and this season will see a few additional changes to the shows format.

Due to Dannii Minogue’s pregnancy and the fact that Cheryl Cole was heavily ill with malaria guest judges will fill in for them during the auditions process, which like last year will take place in front of a live television audience.

Filling in for Dannii and Cheryl are several well known celebrities from the pop world, which include former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell who steps in for the Glasgow auditions. Natalie Imbruglia fills in for the Birmingham leg of the auditions while Katy Perry will fill in during the Dublin leg of the tour, and rounding out the guest judges are Pixie Lott in Cardiff and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger in Manchester.

A further change to the format will see both Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole faced with a few more acts to choose from during the final selections process. As opposed to the usual six acts that go to the judges houses. The number of contestants has now been increased to eight.

At the suggestion of Nicole Scherzinger, who was impressed by the quality of some of this years older entrants, the boy and girl categories have been extended from 16 to 27 instead of 24, and the older group is now the over 28s.

Also changing is the host to the supplementary program The Xtra Factor, which airs after the main show on ITV2. This extra show was hosted by Holly Willoughby in previous years, but will now be fronted by former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq.

Of course remaining for the shows duration are regular judges Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh, and in a recent interview for UK television listings magazine TV & Satellite Week Walsh gave Cowell some very high praise, but pointed out that Cowell is misunderstood by other producers in the music industry because he tends to go more for what sells as apposed to what has credibility on the street.

“He’s the Rupert Murdoch of the music business. Although people are sniffy about Murdoch’s newspapers, he still sells more of them than anyone else.

Of course, I still get annoyed with Simon sometimes. He knows how to prod and press the buttons to annoy you - and he knows he’s doing it.

If for instance, I happen to say something that’s really good, during the auditions, he’ll look over at me and say: ‘Guess which one of us you’ll see saying that in the finished programme?’ But he always does it in a really funny way. I really believe the mans a genius.”

The X Factor returns to ITV1 on Saturday, 21 August at 7:30PM.