Judge that: Gary Barlow and Lily Allen 'to join X Factor'... and Simon Cowell will be back on panel of five
By Lara GouldLast updated at 11:27 PM on 2nd April 2011
Take That star Gary Barlow and pop singer Lily Allen are being lined up to join The X Factor as judges as the show undergoes a radical overhaul.
A senior source on the ITV show said the pair are set to join Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue on the panel.
Simon Cowell is returning to the show - but only for the live programmes, when the number of judges will be increased to five.
'Very different': Take That star Gary Barlow and pop singer Lily Allen are being lined up to join The X Factor as judges as the show undergoes a radical overhaul
Cheryl Cole, who is pursuing other opportunities in America, is not believed to be taking part in the next series.
ITV boss Peter Fincham this week confirmed The X Factor - which started in 2004 - will be 'very different' when it returns in August.
He told The Mail on Sunday: 'We will announce plans for the panel when we are ready.
'But what I can tell you at this stage is that the new series of The X Factor will be very new and very different from what we have seen before.'
A senior X Factor source added: 'Contracts are due to be signed this week for the existing judges who are returning.
'Lily Allen and Gary Barlow are the names that are being talked about to fill the vacancies.'
Award-winning songwriter Barlow, 40, has already made several appearances on The X Factor with his band Take That.
Allen, 25, has said that she planned to retire from making music following the phenomenal success of her two Top 10 albums Alright, Still and It's Not Me, It's You.
Barlow and Allen have recently set up their own record labels and both may be interested in the opportunities to develop talent as mentors on The X Factor.
He's back: Simon Cowell is returning to the show - but only for the live programmes. Cheryl Cole, who is pursuing other opportunities in America, is not believed to be taking part in the next series
Even though Simon Cowell is launching the American version of The X Factor this year, he has agreed to work on the live part of the British shows.
They are on Saturday and Sunday nights, so Cowell will be able to appear on the American series, which will be on air on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
ITV has agreed to fly him to and from the United States by private jet twice a week between October and December. Cowell, who was in London this week, had a meeting with Fincham on Thursday night to discuss his role in the new series.
He was said to be concerned that leaving the British series, which was watched by about 12million viewers a week last year, could lead to a ratings fall, leaving The X Factor brand as a whole weakened.
The talks, which took place at a secret location, went on late into the night and an ITV source described the discussions as 'very positive and very fruitful'.
No contracts were signed but The Mail on Sunday understands that a verbal agreement was reached between the pair about Cowell taking part in the UK show, and an official announcement is expected this week.
New faces: A senior source on the ITV show said Barlow and Allen are set to join Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue on the panel
'Even if 20million people are watching in the United States and it is a huge success, if the British show's ratings fall, that will be seen as a failure. Nobody wants that, least of all Simon.'
It is understood that the new panel of judges - not including Cowell - will work on the audition stages of the series which begin in May.
They will tour the country to find contestants who will go on to the national finals.
The live Saturday and Sunday night shows will begin in October - and that is when Cowell will appear.
He is unlikely to mentor his own acts because of his other work commitments, but he may act as an objective judge with a casting vote.
X Factor executives are believed to favour increasing the judges' panel to five during the live shows because it will end the unpopular 'Deadlock' aspect of the show which was used in previous series to reach a decision on acts when the panel of four was split evenly.
It also gives Cowell the flexibility to miss any shows if unforeseen problems arise that keep him in the United States.
An ITV spokesman said: 'We are not in a position to make any announcements about the panel at this stage.'
Last night a spokesman for Gary Barlow said he had not been asked to do the show.
A spokesman for Lily Allen did not comment. A spokeswoman for Mr Cowell said: 'Everything is still being discussed.'
