Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger will judge X Factor: The Band with the help of industry ‘experts’
IT’S lucky Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger get on — because they will be the ONLY judges on a new X Factor spin-off.
They will be on the panel of The X Factor: The Band, meaning Louis Walsh’s return was a brief one.
Instead, industry experts will help the pair pick their band.
Simon will be looking for the new One Direction while Nicole is determined to create a group on a par with the Pussycat Dolls, which she found fame in.
No pressure then.
An X Factor insider said: “Simon and Nicole are already winding each other up about who’ll pick the best band and the judges won’t hold back with their opinions during the auditions.
“It will be like a throwback to the old days where they’ll say what they really think — even if it comes across as harsh. There won’t be any time for wasters.” Auditions are taking place at Simon’s record label Syco in London and the bands will be comprised of solo stars merged into a group.
Hosted by Dermot O’Leary, the ITV mini-series kicks off on December 9 and will feature four shows, including the final on December 15.
Simon told The Sun this month he rushed out the series to ensure it airs before Little Mix’s new BBC1 talent show, The Search, as he claimed he came up with the idea first.
The new series is very much in the mold of Popstars: The Rivals, the 2002 ITV talent show that discovered girlband Girls Aloud and, the not quite so memorable flop boyband One True Voice.
I still think their Shakespeare’s (Way With) Words is one of the most under-rated pop songs of all time, mind.
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Rob-bed of sleep
ROB Rinder gets a very rude awakening when Michael McIntyre bursts into his bedroom in the dead of night.
The funnyman brought his Midnight Gameshow into the home of everyone’s favourite TV judge, and for once the Sun columnist was lost for words.
Particularly when as part of Michael McIntyre’s Big Show this Saturday night, he was joined between the sheets by Zammo McGuire from Grange Hill, maths whizz Johnny Ball, Olympic ace Greg Rutherford and even a cameo from puppets Sooty & Sweep.
I think he’s going to need a bigger bed.
bizbit
NETFLIX nature documentary Our Planet has been turned into two live arena shows featuring an orchestra and clips narrated by Sir David Attenborough. One will be in The 02, London, the other at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro, in late 2020.
Jonah bags Ag
AFTER starring in BBC1’s World On Fire, actor Jonah Hauer-King has a steamy new role – playing Agatha Christie’s toyboy lover.
Channel 5’s Agatha And The Curse Of Ishtar airs on December 15 and tells how the crime writer, played by Lyndsey Marshal, meets Max – 14 years her junior – who went on to marry her.
Lyndsey said: “It was the first scene I shot with Jonah, a more loving scene, and that was a bit challenging.
“But in hindsight it was probably for the best . . . if we had to do that further on into the shoot we wouldn’t have been able to keep a straight face.”
bizbit
BRITISH actress Julia Ormond is joining the cast of a new Walking Dead spin-off series, which will soon be available on Amazon Prime. The Walking Dead: World Beyond will be released early next year.
Ben: Age is block to roles
BEN Miller is about to reappear on our screens in ITV drama Sticks And Stones.
But he knows how hard it can be for older actors to land roles – and says competition means he has to battle middle-aged spread.
Ben, 53, said: “I can’t suddenly go to 16st – I’d like to go to 16st but I don’t think I’d get the work.
“It does get tougher as you get older. There’s definitely more roles for older men than older women but there are also fewer parts for older men than younger.”
The new drama, from Doctor Foster writer Mike Bartlett, starts next month, with Ben playing the boss of a man being victimised.
But not all his favourite shows are highbrow. He said: “Made In Chelsea is beautifully shot. It was my wife who said, ‘You’ve got to watch this, it’s brilliant’ and then I was hooked.”
There’s no accounting for taste.
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Motley chew
CELEBRITY Come Dine With Me has signed up a rather random selection of stars for its festive special.
Arriving for some food and drink will be Strictly Come Dancing sensation Debbie McGee and reality TV personality Charlotte Dawson.
And if that wasn’t bizarre enough, they will be joined on the E4 show by drag artist and Celebrity Big Brother winner Courtney Act as well as comedy duo Dick & Dom.
The show will air daily from December 16 to 20.
must watch
WHAT? Gold Digger, BBC1, 9pm.
WHY? Julia is presented with proof of toyboy lover Benjamin’s bad behaviour, but instead of confronting him she keeps the news close to her chest in a bid to find out more.
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