X Factor UK’s new judging line-up

MANILA, Philippines - X Factor UK recently reeled off with its 12th season despite a steady decline in TV ratings. The singing competition for the next big pop star has remained prestigious nonetheless and features a new judging line-up.

New faces Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw join old-timers Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini in the panel. Louis Walsh, who sat as judge for 11 seasons, is out.

Even the hosts — Caroline Flack and Olly Murs — are new, the first duo to present the show. Long-time host Dermot O’Leary, who was seen for eight seasons, said goodbye to the show.

Open auditions for Season 12 were held all over the UK and in Ireland from April to June, with mobile auditions happening as early as March. The auditions before the judges took place in Manchester and London last July. The live shows will start end of October.

The judges have been assigned their respective categories for the competition. Simon will mentor the Over 25 talents, Cheryl will handle the Groups, Nick will coach the Boys and Rita will be in charge of the Girls.

The ages of those who auditioned this season range from 17 to over 60, as more hopefuls try it out for a shot at stardom. Talents include teenage singers (17-year-old Charli Beard, 18-year-old barmaid Kiera Weathers, 18-year-old Bedfordshire student Brodie Kelly), acoustic talents (Vicki Ann Nash), pop groups (all-male trio Sunday Club), acoustic duo (Rock and Rose), girl bands (Rumour Has It, PYT), gospel choir (five-member, all-girl Silvertone), R&B singers (all-male group Bekin, 44-year-old Alex Boye).

There are returning hopefuls (25-year-old Monica Michael, 21-year-old Havva Rebke, 25-year-old “winged singer” Davide Papasidero who flew all the way from Rome), while there are first-timers who also tried their luck (30-year-old receptionist Jade McGuire from Glasgow, 21-year-old Calypso Larrazet, 21-year-old Katie Coleman) and got a nod from the judges.

Expectedly, there were those who disappointed the judges (the not-so-lucky 61-year-old yoga teacher Mary O’Sullivan) and there were those who readily impressed them (21-year-old mechanic Josh Daniel gave a heart-rending version of Labrinth’s Jealous, which brought Simon to tears).

So far, Filipino talents have made it successfully through the auditions and moved forward to the Bootcamp round. Full-time mom Jenessa Gill from Manchester delighted the judges with her energetic version of Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie. The 35-year-old performer got the crowd cheering for her when she dauntlessly climbed on Simon’s lap and even kissed him.

 Meanwhile, 37-year-old Neneth Lyons, a housewife and mom from Chelmsford, wowed the judges with her riveting and emotional rendition of Barbra Streisand’s Somewhere.

In the first episode, Filipino sisters 4th Power readily impressed when they rendered the Jessie J hit, Bang Bang, which merited a standing ovation from all four celebrity judges. The Cercado Sisters flew all the way from Santiago City, Isabela just to try their luck.

X Factor UK airs on RTL-CBS Entertainment Channel.