We can only hope Simon Cowell tuned into This Morning to hear Rylan Clark-Neal’s plea concerning this year’s judging panel on The X Factor.

Speaking to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield during his Ryland feature, Rylan declared that now is “the time to do the right thing” – and bring back a trio of former favourites.

“We want Louis [Walsh], we want Sharon [Osbourne], and I would love Nicole [Scherzinger] back, because I think she was a great judge,” he said.

“She was my mentor – she was amazing. She’s so into it as well. That is my dream line-up. They’ve worked together previously on series 10, the series after mine, when Sharon and Louis were there.”

Holly asked whether former judge and Cowell-stand in Gary Barlow would ever return, to which Rylan quipped: “I don’t think Gary will come back – I think I scarred him for life…”

Cheryl, Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora have all confirmed their exits from the judging panel, and co-hosts Olly Murs and Caroline Flack announced they’d be standing down too.

Dermot O’Leary has reprised his role as presenter, while rumours strongly suggest Louis and Sharon could be back.

This Morning airs weekdays on ITV, while The X Factor returns later this year.