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The launch date for the new series of 'The X Factor' has been confirmed for later this month.
According to Digital Spy, the talent show will return to television screens on Saturday 21 August on ITV1.

The audition rounds of the show will feature guest judges Geri Halliwell, Katy Perry, Natalie Imbruglia, Pixie Lott and Nicole Scherzinger!

Regular judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will all return for the live shows later in the year.

It has been confirmed that the 'X Factor' judges will get to pick from eight rather than six acts during the Judges' Houses phase of the talent show this season

ITV have confirmed that change and also said that the upper age limit for the boys' and girls' categories will rise to 28. This is in order "to strengthen the competition and talent."

The statement said "Here at The X Factor we're never ones to rest on our laurels. If something needs a mix up to keep the show fresh and exciting, then that's exactly what we'll do!

"Last year we added a live audience to the auditions, this year it's Boot Camp that's bringing about some changes."

The statement continued: "Instead of the usual six, eight acts will now go through to the Judges' Houses stage so that Cheryl and Dannii, having missed the auditions, will have the opportunity to choose their finalists from a wider range of talent."

This year's upcoming 'X Factor' will reportedly not focus on contestants' hardships.
According to a report in The Sun, producers on the ITV show are hoping to change the programme's image in a bid to find artists with greater longevity.

A source said: "There was a time when people wanted to see someone who has had a difficult life get a number one Christmas hit. But that climate has completely changed. People want an artist that is going to keep producing."

Contestants are apparently being told to take dance classes in order to prove that they could have a "genuine career", and asked to tackle songs by artists like Lady GaGa and Corinne Bailey Rae.

The source added: "It's the seventh year and it needed to change. The climate is completely different to when Leon Jackson won it in 2007.

"JLS have set the standard of what can be achieved. They proved that an 'X Factor' finalist can make the jump to being proper recording artists with a long career ahead of them."

'The X Factor' boot camp shows will not feature studio audiences this year, due to the fact that regular judges Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole will both be absent from the show.

According to Digital Spy, a representative for 'The X Factor' said in a statement: "Due to the unusual circumstances, we are changing the format of Boot Camp slightly this year and we will not be inviting an audience to watch the contestants being put through their paces."

Audiences have been present at the audition stages of the competition this year.

Minogue, who recently gave birth to her first child, is expected to return to the show before the live programmes.

Cole is currently absent from the talent contest because she was recently diagnosed with malaria.

Simon Cowell has suggested that fellow 'X Factor' judge Louis Walsh has developed a crush on Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger.


According to The Sun, Cowell said that Walsh was in a "soft" mood when Scherzinger was present as a guest judge at recent auditions.

Cowell said: "Louis hasn't smiled like this for a long time. He's like a lamb on a spring day - I have never seen him like this."

"He is so soft on her. It's very sweet, but it's the first time anyone has known Louis with a crush like this."

"It's like a duckling if it is rescued by a dog. The duckling follows the dog around thinking the dog is its mother. It shouldn't work for obvious reasons - but it does."

lol at the last bit! That Nicole one is so hot she can turn a 50 year old gay man straight!!

That is probably helped by when she does wear clothes, she wears very little!!

Hmmm, I never watch these types of shows, but if its gonna have Cherly and that Nicole girl in the same metre radius, I may have to tune in, especially coz women being women, they're both gonna be competing to look the nicest/show more skin!

Apparently Simon Cowell and Cheryl Tweedy are getting into spats during The X Factor auditions and Cheryl isn't appreciating it much!

A source reveals:

"Simon and Cheryl have been winding each other up throughout the auditions and Cheryl did not take kindly to some of the comments. She felt some of it was quite personal and it’s going to be all out war now.

"It has made Cheryl determined to win for a third year in a row, cos that is the only thing that will wipe the smile from Simon’s face. She keeps talking about finding a little diamond and thinks she is the best at being a mentor and nurturing the talent."

Can't we all just get along?

http://uk.tv.yahoo.com/blog/article/431665/what-happened-to-the-x-factor-series-one-finalists.html
Sorry too lazy to copy everything!!