X Factor UK 13th edition kicks off

MANILA, Philippines – The 13th edition of X Factor UK recently kicked off, bannered by returning judges who completed the panel with long-time judge and program creator, Simon Cowell. The judging panel consists of former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger; TV host and rock royalty Sharon Osbourne; and entertainment manager Louis Walsh mentoring the music hopefuls.

Erstwhile judges Nick Grimshaw, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Rita Ora left the show after last season. Cheryl, however, will be seen assisting Simon in mentoring the girls this season.

Nicole will handle the boys assisted by Calvin Harris, Sharon will be in charge of the over 25 talents assisted by Robbie Williams and Louis will coach the groups, assisted by Fleur East and Alesha Dixon.

Dermot O’Leary also returned as host, replacing Olly Murs and Caroline Flack, the first duo who hosted the series but displayed a disappointing performance in Season 12.

Open auditions for X Factor UK Season 13 were earlier held all over Europe as early as April — in Glasgow, Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin, Newcastle, London, Manchester and Liverpool. It was followed by room auditions with the judges in Leicester, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin.

After only the second week, X Factor UK has enlisted promising talents who successfully passed the audition stage before the judges. Single mom Rebekah Ryan had to sing another piece for her audition (Sarah McLachlan’s Angel) after facing the judges so nervously.

Nineteen-year-old Kayleigh Marie Morgan from Wales gave an emotional rendition of With You from the musical, Ghost. Sada Vidoo has no age because she’s a “living doll.” She dished out Pat Benatar’s Love Is a Battlefield. Bartender Christian Burrows performed his original song about his younger brother’s death.

A South Korean hopeful who dismally auditioned couldn’t seem to render the Broadway song, Memory, so Nicole even had to sing with him. Sixty-seven-year-old Bono look-alike Peter Richard tried his luck, but didn’t make it past the judges.

There were also returning talents who displayed better audition performance this time. “It does take guts to come back,” said Simon to 17-year-old student Emily Middlemas, who played the guitar to Stevie Wonder’s Master Blaster.

Twenty-eight-year-old lifeguard Janet Grogan, whom Simon admitted, was a “mistake” to let go in the six-chair challenge two years ago, rendered Zayn Malik’s Pillow Talk. “Simon’s tweet was the reason I’m back,” Janet said.

From 16 to as old as 70 years, talents can audition in X Factor UK. Last season’s winner was 17-year-old Louisa Johnson, mentored by new judge Rita Ora. Louisa was the youngest champion of X Factor UK and her debut single, Forever Young, was also released.

Filipino sisters the Cercados, popularly known as 4th Impact, joined the competition last season. However, the quartet was eliminated in the semi-finals, which turned out to be the biggest upset of their judge, Cheryl.

X Factor UK remains to be a prestigious singing competition for the next, big pop star in Europe. The reality singing competition airs every Sunday morning on RTL-CBS Entertainment Channel.