NEWS FOR AUGUST:

Simon Cowell has hired ex-lover, singer Sinitta, to help him pick acts for his new ITV talent show X-Factor, starting in September. And sparks are expected to fly. "She's very lippy. When she and I argue, it's seven on the Richer Scale," says Simon.

The X Factor Info

Hosts: Kate Thornton hosts ITV1 main show. GMTV's Ben Shepard hosts ITV2 show 'Xtra Factor'.

In Simon Cowell's X Factor, billed as the "biggest ever TV talent show"- which is the headliner of ITV's autumn schedule - Cowell will compete against Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne to discover the next big singing sensation. The trio will sit through auditions from around the country, with acts falling into three categories: sixteen to twenty five year olds solos, twenty five and over solos and Groups From the initial 50,000 applicants, just 120 will make it onto the next round, a two-day intensive boot camp. Each judge will be responsible for one group, but won't be told which until the first day of the boot camp. Only 5 acts from each group will be left standing at the end of boot camp. They will then visit the home of their judge, whom - with the aid of three specifically chosen experts - will eliminate another two.The three remaining acts in each group get to move on to the live finals.

A source told Broadcast magazine: "It will be like judge wars. Will Louis Walsh win the show or will Simon Cowell? They will be doing everything they can to win the Saturday night show and will pull out every trick in the book to do so." "The judges are in competition as well as the artists," Simon Cowell said. "This time I'm going to be putting my reputation on the line as well."

The X Factor will take the place of another Popstars or Pop Idol this year. Simon Cowell said Pop Idol had been given "a rest". The Guardian newspaper said that the future of Pop Idol is hanging in the balance.

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