Every year there has been a new judge their act has gone on to win the show. Dannii with Leon Jackson, then Cheryl with Alexandra Burke, Tulisa with Little Mix (although with 3/4 new judges, not so big a deal), but now Nicole! Is it just a coincidence or are the new judges being given the strongest categories?

Producers give them the strongest category to endear them to the public.

They are keen and up for it...then the 2 nd year they get big for their boots...ok Cheryl won 2

New judge's are normally the producer's favourite so they give them a strong category and pimp them up.

I'm not sure that they're given the strongest category. Cheryl's Girls in 2008 and Nicole's Boys this year were the best in their series but I'm not sure about Dannii in 2007 (although two were finalists, I think there were better acts) and I wouldn't say that Tulisa's Groups in the previous series were the best. Perhaps Kelly was the producers' favourite last year!?

It can be very hard to tell at that stage of the competition but generally if you give a new judge the boys then they'll be fine. Every single series has had a young guy in the top 3. And in 2008 the boys were very weak while the girls were very strong (the biggest threat initially seemed to be Rachel Hylton). In 2009 I actually thought the boys were very poor and I do think the original plan was for Simon to win with an over (I think they all predicted Olly). Yet Joe put in some good performances when it counted and went on to win. Last year I think Tulisa was given the worst category on paper - the groups are consistently difficult and I don't think anyone gave Little Mix a hope in hell at the start of the live shows.