Rita Ora In As New ‘X Factor’ Judge As Mel B. Waves Goodbye
American Idol might be DOA after its upcoming 15th season, but across the pond, X Factor is getting a bit of new life.
"Poison" singer Rita Ora, who previously served as a guest judge on the show in 2012, will join as an official judge for the upcoming twelfth season, according to ITV. She'll begin alongside fellow new judge BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw and veterans Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini on the panel of experts as Mel B. and Louis Walsh wave goodbye to the show.
"I am excited to be coming back to the X Factor – I had a ball here in 2012," Ora said in a statement to ITV after the announcement. "This is a journey I can't wait to embark on to find some talented singers. Its the new generation taking over. Booooom."
And Fernandez-Versini said she was equally thrilled to get the ball rolling.
"I haven't been as excited about an X Factor season since I first became a judge," she noted. "The addition of Rita and Grimmy along with some interesting changes we've made to the format has refocused us to do what we do best, finding talent and making stars."
Last year's X Factor winner, Ben Haenow, debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles chart upon the release of his cover of One Republic's "Something I Need."
Think Ora and Grimshaw are the right picks to nail down the next British superstar? Share your thoughts on the X Factor's new blood!
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