TV's worst kept secret: L-R Louis Walsh, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Gary Barlow.
After months of rumour and speculation, at shortly after 17:30 on
Monday 30th May, the dry ice emerged from the ITV Press Office. The names were read out; Kelly Rowland, Gary Barlow, Tulisa ‘N-Dubz’ Contostavlos and...Louis Walsh. No, it’s not the line-up of a Celebrity Come Dine With Me Special (though that would surely make better telly), this is the all-new (and Louis) judging panel on Britain’s biggest light exploitainment show - The X-Factor.
The youngest member of the judging panel will be at first unfamiliar to most - but don't be fooled. You've heard the music of Tulisa N-Dubz (22) before; not on your own iPod but blasted through a tinny mobile phone loudspeaker the last time you were on public transport. Tulisa N-Dubz will ensure the track-suited masses buy into the franchise. We’re praying to the TV Gods that she gets the Over-28s category.
Louis Walsh (58) - the weakest link of the previous line-up - is of course the only remaining constant between this series and the last. Louis is famed for managing two average singers and their backing dancers - and of course Jedward. These days he is better known for such wizened gems as, "You look like a young Lenny Henry". Expect more prize nuggets from the pop svengali this year.
For the first time in any such series - Popstars, Pop Idol, and X-Factor to date, Walsh is the only non-popstar on the panel. Undoubtedly, Westlife's lucrative zillion consecutive number 1s (of which Simon Cowell took a significant cut) have secured Louis' pensionable position. However, without Simon playing the role of understanding, if not slightly uncomfortable relative, Louis may well be more introverted this year. We already have images of him eating his lunch on his own in the X-Factor canteen.
US import Kelly Rowland is perhaps the biggest new name for X-Factor. As part of multi-platinum selling, multi-Grammy winning Destiny's Child, Rowland tasted global mega stardom. That was until one member left and soaked up the solo-success while the others were left behind in pop music no man’s land. So at least she'll have plenty in common with the final new mentor - Gary Barlow.
The nicest man in pop has been reportedly paid upwards of £1.5 million to step into the shoes and possibly the grey marl multipack t-shirts of Simon Cowell as lead judge. Take That frontman Barlow brings nearly two decades of experience as a singer, songwriter and all the charm and personality of a Leona Lewis tribute act to the famous judge’s table.
Just like an X-Factor hopeful, we’re sure the new panel are going to give it 110%. Filming for the eighth series of The X Facter begins in Birmingham on June 1st.
