Judges Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger are BACK to join Simon Cowell
They will front the 2016 ITV talent show with returning host Dermot O'Leary
FAMILIAR faces will fill this year's X Factor judging panel as Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh ALL return to the show.
Head honcho Simon Cowell has lured back the fans' favourites in an attempt to revive the programme's ratings slump and the trio will team up with host Dermot O'Leary for the huge re-vamp.
Straight-talking Sharon first took her place as one of the original panel and said she was "overjoyed" about her comeback - but most excited about a cuddle with Simon's baby son.
She revealed: “I’m overjoyed about going back to The X Factor, sitting with Lou, Lou, gorgeous Nicole and naughty Simon.
"But most of all, I can’t wait to meet baby Eric.”
The reality TV star, who is currently battling marriage woes with husband Ozzy, originally endured a feisty relationship with co-judge popstar Danni Minogue.
Yet she also sparked smiles after chucking a glass of water over Louis after he made a signature catty comment about her other half.
This time around, she'll be plonked next to the 'Schamazing' Nicole Scherzinger who ditched a role on Broadway musical Cats to make her return.
Last week, The Sun exclusively revealed she had infuriated Andrew Lloyd-Webber by agreeing to Simon Cowell's million-pound deal.
A source told us the beauty was in high demand because of her "eccentric humour" and added: "Not one of the judges – Nicole, Sharon or Louis – could ever be accused of shying away from an opinion."
Pussycat Doll Nicole – who dated Lewis Hamilton on and off for eight years – first appeared as a guest judge on the X Factor in 2010, when she temporarily replaced Dannii Minogue.
The role saw her emerge as the winning judge once when she mentored James Arthur to victory in 2012.
After her role was officially revealed Nicole, 37, gushed: “I can’t wait to be back in the UK and on the show with the best judges sitting alongside me on the panel.
"I'm excited about discovering, mentoring and winning with an exciting new act this year.
"And having had winning contestants in the past, Simon knows I will do it.”
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She has since taken to Twitter to reveal her competitive streak and wrote: "Can't wait to be back in my second home and part of @TheXFactor family this year! #I'mGonnaFindAnotherWinner," followed by an Emoji with a stick-out tongue.
Silver-haired Louis, absent from the show's last series, seemed like the cat that got the cream after announcing he would again pull up a chair at the X Factor table.
The cheeky Irishman quipped: “He’d say otherwise but I knew Simon missed me last year!
"I’m delighted to be back on the panel especially beside my two favourite female judges Sharon and Nicole, and I’m looking forward to taking them all back to Dublin this year when we head there for auditions.”
Meanwhile Mr Nasty Simon warned viewers the return of their favourite faces might not be all it seems and said: "Be careful what you wish for!"
The four-strong group will launch the talent contest's fresh audition rounds on June 10 at Leicester City's King Power Stadium.
They will be joined by sexy Dermot O'Leary who last week launched the show's new online auditions.
Now budding Leona Lewis' and One Direction-esq hunks can now be start their talent show journey without leaving their home after auditions were launched on Facebook live.
With his arms outspread, the host said: "You'll be be able to audition for the X Factor on Facebook from the comfort of your own home - how does that even work?
"What am I going to do now?"
It is a worldwide-first for reality TV as social media takes the leading role in the preliminary rounds.
Yet belting out a track in front of a webcam means prospective singers may miss out on the chance of meeting Dermot himself.
The X Factor favourite - who was temporarily ditched as host of last year's programme - was reinstated for the upcoming series after Caroline Flack was given the boot and Olly Murs left.
The Sun exclusively revealed Dermot, 43, was asked to "name his price" on a potential three-year contract as Simon Cowell lured him back.
He was previously paid £1million to host the audition rounds and live shows on ITV.
One source told how Dermot is now in a much more powerful position than before he left. And the insider added he could front the show for the rest of its life-span.
The insider said: “Producers have realised you can’t take any risks with the presenter of the show.
“You need someone really good who can cope with live TV."
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