What kind of judge are you?
I think I’m at a slight advantage to the other judges as I’ve been in the process before so maybe I can be more considerate at times. I understand how the contestants are feeling, especially when they’re singing in front of us and this year in front of an audience of 2,000!
What do you look for in an audition?
I know it sounds cheesy but I look for the full package – someone with The X Factor. I look for someone with a bit of sparkle about them, someone with the whole package as opposed to someone with just a good voice and nothing else about them.
What do you enjoy most about the audition stages?
I really enjoyed the auditions but this year the whole process has been different. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the changes at first. The new look auditions benefit not only the acts but also us, as the audience let us know if they think differently to us about an act and sometimes we change our mind. It’s great for us as judges because we get to see how an act can handle performing on stage to a crowd earlier in the competition process and they get this fantastic opportunity to perform on stage. It’s so much more exciting, people really have the chance to shine and show us earlier what they’re made of.
Are you happy with the new look auditions?
I’d just found my feet with the show as last year was my first year and then they go and change the format! I felt the rug was pulled from under my feet
with the changes but thankfully I’ve really enjoyed the new process, it works so well. We, as judges are also judged now on what we say and think, if we don’t like an act but the audience do – they certainly let us know about it!
What are the most memorable auditions this year?
We had a male rocker who was AMAZING! He totally blew everyone away on stage, the audience buzz during and after his performance was electric. We also had a guy who came on and sang a ballad and he created the same kind of audience buzz.
Do you feel that the fact you were once a contestant on a similar show helps you to judge auditions with a clearer understanding of how they’re feeling?
I feel this year I’m more experienced as a judge and in saying no. I struggled at first last year in saying no to people, i think i may have been giving false hope. This year, I’ve learned more, I’m more able to say no to people that don’t have what we’re looking for and I don’t feel as bad.
Who on the Judging panel do you find you mostly agree with?
I hate to say this but I tend to agree with Simon but at the same time, I’m more than happy to disagree with him!
