Yahoo News The X Factor 2018 confirms new-look judges' panel
It's official: The X Factor has unveiled a new-look judges' panel for the 2018 series, and yes, Robbie Williams and Ayda Field are on it.
The husband-wife combo are joined by One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, as Simon Cowell also returns to complete the line-up. The four of them appeared at a press conference today (July 17) alongside presenter Dermot O'Leary.
Sharon Osbourne, it was previously announced, will be part of the panel for the live shows.
Louis Walsh confirmed last month that he was departing from the show after 13 years as judge, while Nicole Scherzinger is also not returning.
"I've had a fantastic 13 years on The X Factor, but the show needs a change and I'm ready to leave," Louis said at the time.
Rumours of Robbie and Ayda joining the panel have been circulating for months. Back in June, Robbie addressed the speculation on This Morning by saying the couple were in talks with ITV, while Ayda remained coy when asked by the Loose Women panelists later that month, insisting that she had "no comment".
Simon all but confirmed the couple's addition to the panel earlier this month, saying in an interview: "It all kind of worked out without me even asking him... [Robbie] comes back to my house, 'Can we do a deal?' We do a deal. I think it's the best thing. And you know, because [Ayda] is a member of the public, that makes it better."
Louis Tomlinson had been rumoured to be Nick Grimshaw's replacement back in 2016.
Speaking to The Sun at the time, Tomlinson expressed interest in sitting at the judges' desk, but nothing materialised that year.
Rumours that he would be joining the 2018 panel began to pick up steam last week.
The X Factor returns later this year on ITV.
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