'Walk The Line': Who are the judges? When is it on? All you need to know

The X Factor might not be making a return any time soon, but that doesn't mean Simon Cowell is out of the TV singing contest game.

Music mogul Cowell is launching a brand new show at ITV, Walk The Line - although we won't actually be seeing him on screen this time.

Here's all you need to know about the series, including when it starts, how it works, and who's judging it.

When is Walk The Line on TV?

The singing contest is a six-part series that's due to run on ITV on consecutive nights, starting on Sunday, 12 December at 8pm.

It will then continue every night at the same time, with the final airing on Friday, 17 December at 8pm.

Who are the judges and presenter?

When the show was first announced, it looked as though Simon Cowell would be going back to his TV judge days - although he later confirmed he would not actually appear on his new show.

The judging panel includes Gary Barlow, Alesha Dixon, Dawn French and Craig David.

Dixon said: "When Simon first told me about the format, I couldn’t wait to see it come to life."

Read more: The X Factor winners and where they are now

French added: "I’m far too excited to be part of this show, I’ve decided to wear double knickers at all times."

Barlow, who judged The X Factor from 2011 to 2013, said: "When Simon calls it’s usually with something fairly extraordinary."

David added: "Walk The Line is innovative, new and edgy which is why I’m so excited to be working on this show."

Hosting the show is Maya Jama, who said it was a dream come true to work on a Cowell show: "This has been a childhood dream of mine. I remember watching shows created by Simon when I was younger, and to be given the opportunity to host one myself… it has definitely been a pinch me moment.

"I’ve been itching to tell everyone about it – expect some first class entertainment and truly incredible singing talent. Walk The Line has been unlike anything I’ve worked on before and I hope everyone has as much fun watching it as we are making it."

How does Walk The Line work?

It's a tricky concept that will make more sense once you see the first episode.

Music acts of any genre, soloists, duos or groups, can all compete and even have the chance to perform their own original songs if they want to.

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Each episode, two acts will get the top spots from the public vote, but they won't actually know who is topping the scoreboard.

All they'll know is how much money they are offered by the judges to cash out of the contest at the end of the episode - or, if they're brave enough, they can turn down the amount to "walk the line" into the next episode and be in with a chance of winning the £500,000 jackpot.

Whoever makes it to the end of the final show will win the life-changing half-a-million, but it comes at a great risk of walking away with nothing if the acts gamble on getting into the next episode and haven't been voted top.

It also means that if a top act loses their nerve and cashes out early, a lower-placed act could get another chance the next night.

Confused? We're sure it'll all become clear on Sunday night.

Walk The Line begins on ITV on Sunday, 12 December at 8pm and continues until Friday, 17 December.

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