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The X Factor is back this weekend and the show’s judges are excited as we are.

This year sees Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Mel B and Louis Walsh on the panel and they’ve been speaking all about the new series.

Returning back to the UK show after three years on the American version, Simon admits: “You miss British contestants.

“I’ve always thought on these shows, for whatever reason, the best people have come from Britain. You can take people like Leona Lewis or One Direction or Olly Murs, JLS, Ella Henderson, Cher Lloyd, they’ve all come from the show and gone on to have big careers.

“So we’re lucky the show does attract people who do want to be big recording artists, rather than wanting to win a singing competition – there is a difference.”

And it’s not just the contestants that Simon has missed, also confessing to rather big soft spot for Louis Walsh, who remains on the panel for his eleventh year.

“Louis brings madness to the show,” says Simon. “I’ve known Louis for about 15 years, he’s a nutcase, and he has a very different view of the world than I do.

“But that’s what I find interesting about Louis; he is an optimist, whereas I can be a bit cynical. But he loves music. He loves doing the show; I mean if he had a tail he’d be wagging it.

“And the one thing you forget about Louis is that he is a really good manager. I mean he’s sold over 100million records – you don’t do that with luck, you do it because you’re smart.

“And I think sometimes he tries to hide the fact that he is smart and cunning. Then there are times when I’m sitting there thinking I have no idea why you’re sitting here next to me. So that’s our relationship.”

Louis himself does confess: “I use the catchphrases as a joke – ‘you remind me of a young Lenny Henry or a young Michael Buble’ – and all that type of stuff.

“But I know what I’m doing and it usually makes the other people laugh on the show. So why not? People expect it.”

He went on: “This year we’re looking for stars. They can’t just be good contestants. We need recording artists. We need people who are going to sell records all around the world.”

Also back on the panel this year is Cheryl Cole, now Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.

“I’m always looking for somebody fresh,” she explains, “I’m never looking for the next whoever; the next Justin Beiber, the next One Direction.

“I want somebody to come in that we don’t quite know if we get it or not. Something fresh that we haven’t got.”

However finding that “somebody fresh” means dealing with so-called “frenemy” Simon.

Cheryl says: “Simon has his very own way of being very annoying. He knows which buttons to push and he’ll push them, and push them, and push them.

“But I play the long game. I’m waiting. Don’t worry about me, I’ll get my own back.”

The Crazy Stupid Love hitmaker adds: “I’m feeling more competitive than I ever have. By nature I’m not a competitive person. But this time I’m feeling more competitive than ever.”

Finally there’s new signing Mel B, who sounds as though she’s going to make quite the impact when the show begins Saturday night.

The Spice Girl has been getting on with the other judges, giving each their own Spice Girls nickname.

“I absolutely adore Cheryl,” says Mel, brushing off the tired rivalry rumours. “She’s gorgeous, she’s an artist, she’s confident, she’s strong, everything I love in a woman, she is fabulous.

“What would her Spice Girl name be? Probably something obvious like Geordie Spice.

“Louis for sure would be nutty Spice, because he’s a little bit out there.

“Simon…I don’t want to say anything about Simon because I don’t want to get fired, so I’ll leave that one blank!”

The X Factor begins this Saturday at 8PM on ITV.

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