The X Factor EXCLUSIVE

Simon Cowell recruits Leona Lewis to guest judge ‘toughest auditions in years’

Simon Cowell has recruited former X Factor winner Leona Lewis to guest judge the first episode of his new show The Band. The music mogul, 60, has been hosting the ‘toughest auditions in years’ at his record label Syco, involving hopefuls performing in front of him and a crowd of industry professionals.

Leona, 34, will join Simon and Nicole Scherzinger, 41, to help judge the ITV competition that will rival Little Mix’s BBC1 talent show Little Mix The Search. 

A source told MailOnline: ‘Simon means business and wants no one wasting his time. ‘He’s looking for the band of 2020 and for a group to follow in the footsteps of One Direction and Little Mix.

‘Auditions have been taking place at Simon’s record label, with auditions being across Syco in front of a host of industry professionals.

‘This isn’t a TV audition, it’s the biggest record label meeting the prospective artists could ever hope for. ‘Simon and Nicole aren’t putting just anybody through. These are undoubtedly the toughest auditions in years.’ Simon decided to axe the X Factor All Stars series ITV planned to launch this month, featuring ex-winners such as Leona and Alexandra Burke.

Daily Mail

Simon Cowell has recruited former X Factor winner Leona Lewis to guest judge the first episode of new show The Band