She was rumoured to be hogging all of the limelight from her, but it seems that Nicole Scherzinger doesn’t actually have a problem with Sharon Osbourne being back on the X Factor judging panel.

Speaking ahead of this year’s series, which kicks off this weekend, the 35-year-old singer admitted that she is more than happy to be sitting alongside the outspoken redhead.

“I love having Sharon on the panel,” Nicole said. “She’s outrageous fun, she’s a riot. She’s the queen of these shows. She’s the one who started the show, so I’m having a blast with her. I learn from her on and off camera, and I love her.”

And it seems the feeling is mutual, with mother-of-three Sharon being just as chuffed with her fellow judges.

“We’re all having such fun together it’s a pleasure,” Sharon explained. “There’s a great chemistry between all four of us, and it feels as though Nicole and I have gone full circle as I originally introduced her to the show when she acted as a guest mentor at my Judge’s House in 2007.”

Fans can expect a rather different show this year, with the audition process having reverted back to the small room.

“I much prefer the small audition rooms to the arenas; they are far more intimate so you can really get a sense of the artist,” Sharon said of the format.

She added that she doesn’t feel that going back to the small audition room format has made it harder this year for contestants to stand out, saying: “No not at all, if they are good enough they’ll go through to the arena auditions and then it’s up to them to deliver.”

However, Take That star Gary Barlow does believe that the small room is a tougher audition process.

“I think in the room it’s harder to stand out because, you know, it’s just you, especially the artists who have quiet voices who we are constantly asking them to project more and they’ve been born with small voices,” he said.

“When they get the chance to sing in front of a mic all of a sudden this voice sounds big and gorgeous so yes it’s a specific sort of act that wins in the room.

“When it’s a level playing field and they are on a big stage with a microphone it’s a chance to see people shine more though I think.”

The 42-year-old is hoping to win the show this year after having several of his acts make it to the final, but never take home the crown.

However, he doesn’t believe that a novelty act such as Rylan Clark will ever win the reality TV show.

“I don’t believe a novelty act will ever win this competition because when it comes down to it, I do actually believe in the people that are voting to choose the right person,” he said.

“I was quite shocked that James Arthur won last time, not because he wasn’t the best but because he is the best and was the best. I assumed a TV voting audience wouldn’t vote for someone like that and they did, it really shows me that the right person will win this competition each time.”

Someone else who is quite confident about being able to win this year’s series is long-term judge Louis Walsh.

Speaking about his chances, he said: “If I get the right category and the right person then I could win the show, no doubt about it because I always pick the right songs.”

The music manager will be celebrating ten years on the judging panel, and despite revealing that he is quitting after this year, he described the role as the “best job in the world.”

“I love doing the job. I know what I’m looking for and I’m a team player,” he added.

“I’m very grateful to be doing it and I know I’m lucky. Although as it is my 10th year I was kind of hoping to have the head judge mug but Sharon has stolen that this year from Gary. Maybe the producers or ITV will buy me a carriage clock instead to mark my decade on the show!”

The X Factor returns to ITV1 on Saturday August 31 at 8pm.

Source: express.co.uk