(Robbie
Williams, Ayda Williams, Dermot O'Leary, Louis Tomlinson & Simon Cowell)
The X
Factor announced this week that Robbie Williams,
Ayda Williams and Louis Tomlinson will join Simon Cowell on the new-look
judging panel for the hit singing reality show. The series returns to M-Net
channel 101 a week after its UK broadcast and will air Fridays and Saturdays
from September 7 19:00 to 21:00 and Saturdays 18:00 to 20:00.
Robbie Williams is a global superstar who
has sold more than 75 million albums over his career and won 18 BRIT Awards -
more than any other artist in history. The singer has been playing to sold out
stadiums across the world over the past year on his The Heavy Entertainment Show Tour - which has seen him perform for more
than 1.25 million fans across the UK, Europe and Australasia. Robbie released
the platinum-selling The Heavy
Entertainment Show album in November 2016 - it debuted at Number 1 on the
UK album chart, giving him his 12th Number 1 solo album.
Ayda Williams - actress, presenter and
Robbie’s wife of eight years - will be competing with her husband to claim the
winning spot on this year’s show. She has an invaluable inside take on how the
music industry works and knows first-hand what it takes to forge a successful
career. It is the first time on The X
Factor UK that a husband and wife have been judges.
Louis Tomlinson is the first judge to have
also been a contestant on the show. As a member of One Direction he has sold
more than 150 million records worldwide and achieved more than 100 global No1s.
One Direction were the biggest selling UK act globally for three consecutive
years and in 2013 they were overall the biggest selling act in the world. As a
solo artist, Louis’ single Back to You
hit No.1 in 37 countries and has been streamed more than 220 million times. He
recently won the 2018 iHeartRadio award for Best Solo Breakout and is currently
recording his debut solo album.
Music mogul and show creator Simon Cowell
has been the mastermind behind some of the music industry’s biggest acts from
Leona Lewis and One Direction to Little Mix and James Arthur. Acts from The X Factor UK have sold more than 250
million records globally to date. Cowell told the gathered media at the press
conference: “This new panel is all about optimism, everyone has a real passion
for finding a new star. The three new judges bring a whole new energy and I’m
excited.”
Robbie said: “For nearly 30 years I’ve been
touring. I’ve been wanting to branch out and The X Factor felt like the perfect vehicle. Ayda is my rock, she’s
looked after me through thick and thin. I’m looking forward to getting started
as a judge!”
Ayda said: “On a professional level I’ve
auditioned for years so I know the highs and lows. I know what it takes to help
people achieve their dreams. It’s all about the auditionees, it’s an organic
process. The fact that I get to work with Rob and against him is fantastic!”
Louis said: “The X Factor for me made a lot of sense. Development of artists is
something I’ve been interested in for a long time. Having been on the show
myself I know first-hand that the live shows are like nothing else you would experience.
I’m looking forward to guiding auditionees through the process.”
Sharon Osbourne will also return as a judge
for The X Factor UK’s live shows
while Dermot O’Leary is back as presenter.
Auditions for the 15th series of The X Factor UK began at The SSE Arena,
Wembley on July 18.
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