Posted August 19, 201014 yr What do you look for in the contestants? The best people that walk on stage are always the people that know what they want to be and already know what style of music they want, and have an image. That’s always when I know I’ve got something good to work with. All I’m looking for is somebody that is new, that is unique, that you look at and think, ‘you have got it, you’ve got the X Factor’. Does it get any easier saying ‘No’ to auditionees? No, it doesn’t get easier. These kids have been preparing and rehearsing at home, and this day is like the biggest day of their lives. It’s horrible. You can see their faces and they’re saying ‘Please’ to you sometimes. I just have to keep telling myself it’s not fair to patronise them, to keep something alive that’s not working. That’s one of the hardest parts actually, because there is always someone there that reminds you that this is their dream and it’s a big deal for them. Those few minutes are massive, and telling them ‘No’ is tough. Every time you start a new audition, do you always think this could be the place where you might find the winner? You never know where you’re going to find just that one person who could be the potential winner, so it’s always exciting when you start at a new place. Even though sometimes the days are really long and you think there’s just nobody, there’s always that one person who pops out and you think, ‘I’ve found a star today’. And it’s exciting when you start a new day, because you just hope this is the day you find that one person you need. How have you found siting alongside the guest judges this year? It’s exciting having guest judges, actually more exciting because everybody sees things through fresh eyes and they give you a new buzz. You see new things and it’s just nice to have somebody different on the panel. And with Dannii being away for auditions, it’s probably nice to still have some fellow females? It’s lovely for me that there are other women on the panel because I couldn’t be sitting between those two miserable so and sos on my own! I love having other women with us. I don’t think I could cope with three men on the panel. Three male opinions, it would just drive me nuts! At the London auditions, it was you on your own with Simon and Louis. How was that? I’ll tell you what I have realised more so, is that without a girl – without Dannii or without a girl substitute – it’s actually hard work with those two because once they get on one, or they back each other up, I’ve pretty much had it. I’m in the middle of Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee! Source: ITV
