Judge that: Gary Barlow and Lily Allen 'to join X Factor'... and Simon Cowell will be back on panel of five

By LARA GOULD

'Very different': Take That star Gary Barlow and pop singer Lily Allen are being lined up to join The X Factor as judges as the show undergoes a radical overhaul


Take That star Gary Barlow and pop singer Lily Allen are being lined up to join The X Factor as judges as the show undergoes a radical overhaul.

A senior source on the ITV show said the pair are set to join Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue on the panel.

Simon Cowell is returning to the show - but only for the live programmes, when the number of judges will be increased to five.


He's back: Simon Cowell is returning to the show - but only for the live programmes. Cheryl Cole, who is pursuing other opportunities in America, is not believed to be taking part in the next series


Cheryl Cole, who is pursuing other opportunities in America, is not believed to be taking part in the next series.

ITV boss Peter Fincham this week confirmed The X Factor - which started in 2004 - will be 'very different' when it returns in August.

He told The Mail on Sunday: 'We will announce plans for the panel when we are ready.

'But what I can tell you at this stage is that the new series of The X Factor will be very new and very different from what we have seen before.'


New faces: A senior source on the ITV show said Barlow and Allen are set to join Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue on the panel


A senior X Factor source added: ­'Contracts are due to be signed this week for the existing judges who are returning.

'Lily Allen and Gary Barlow are the names that are being talked about to fill the vacancies.'

Award-winning songwriter Barlow, 40, has already made several appearances on The X Factor with his band Take That.

Allen, 25, has said that she planned to retire from making music following the phenomenal success of her two Top 10 albums Alright, Still and It's Not Me, It's You.

Barlow and Allen have recently set up their own record labels and both may be interested in the opportunities to develop talent as mentors on The X Factor.

Even though Simon Cowell is launching the American version of The X Factor this year, he has agreed to work on the live part of the British shows.


source: dailymail