Producers of the X-Factor have announced that singer Dannii Minogue and choreographer Brian Friedman will join the pop talent show's judging panel, taking the number of judges on the show up to four. As previously reported, former judge Louis Walsh has been axed. The new recruits will join long-standing judges Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne on the next series of the ITV show which, as previously reported, will this time be presented by Dermot O'Leary.
Minogue, whose involvement in the show has been rumoured ever since it was first announced new judges would be recruited, told reporters yesterday: "I can't wait to be part of The X Factor team and getting up close and personal on a daily basis with Simon. Just because I'm the new girl, I won't be a pushover - he'll soon see my competitive streak".
Friedman, who is a judge on Cowell's musical talent show Grease Is The Word, said he was "flattered to be offered such a coveted position".
Talking of the Cowell produced Grease Is The Word, gossipers are saying Cowell has lost interest in the show, which has not been competing as well as expected against the BBC show he stole the idea off, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph search thing. Cowell is also said to be getting increasingly exasperated with the theatre types involved in the project which isn't that surprising - say what you like about Cowell, but he doesn't suffer fools gladly and believe me, there are a lot of fools working in the West End. Said gossipers say Cowell's original plans to stage regular musical theatre based talent shows are unlikely to be fulfilled.