X Factor 2012 winner James Arthur has tipped the Girls as the category to watch on this year’s show.

The singer, whose new single You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You is out later this month*, was speaking to stv.tv’s Gill Harvey when he picked the ladies he thinks will make waves in the latest round of the competition.

“I like Hannah [Barrett] a lot, she’s got proper soul, she’s like a gospel singer and I believe her when she sings, as well as Abi Alton, who’s from my region.”

James, who is half Scottish, also said he’s a big fan of Fife hopeful Jade Richards, who is competing for the third time this year.

“I missed the episode that Jade was on, I’ve been busy, but I met her last year and I think she’s great. I don’t know how she’s managed to slip the net.”

James knows a thing or two about what it takes to win X Factor, having been named as the champion in 2012. Since then he’s gone on to forge a successful singing career, and revealed details of an exciting project he has coming up, making sweet music with one very special lady in his life…

“[I talk to Nicole Scherzinger] every day, people don’t believe me when I say that, but we’re very close.

“We’re going to make some music together, and will have something out in the future.”

James added: “We were doing a dubstep tune the last time we were together, I was doing a bit of rapping, she was doing a bit of singing. It’s fun working with Nicole, there’s no boundaries with her, she just wants to make good music.”

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Source: Entertainment.stv.tv