Very good interview with Louis going on at the moment. Confirmed he, Gary and Sharon are on the panel, but fourth yet to be decided and announced.

Says Simon asked him to do the US version but he didn't want to. Much preferred to stay on the UK show, which he feels is the best. The judges have great fun in the early stages, but its dog eat dog when it comes to the lives... they all want to win.

Currently managing Shane Filan who is about to release new album which he (of course ) says is fantastic. Full of praise for all members of Westlife... FAR less so re Boyzone.. has nothing to do with them now.

Described Cheryl as gorgeous, Dannii as ambitious, Nicole as feisty, Tulisa as honest.

Says Simon is really missed on the main show, thinks to this day he is the best reality show judge there has ever been.

So it is confirmed that Sharon is back.

shame louis is still on it... i used to like him but hes been there too long and just seems a bit useless now,, does he even have anyone in the charts these days? gary always seems to have the worse acts ever... except james,carolynne and melanie the rest of his acts have been awful

You can always rely on Louis for some gossip

I hope its Nicole that comes back though. She so owned last year.

If Nicole doesn't return I'd be tempted to cut the panel to three and hope Sharon can create a link between Louis and Gary. The real problem Louis' had since Simon's departure is he's had no one to bounce off; Sharon's return should help to remedy this.

If you cut the panel to three, you would also have to drop a category.

They could twist it slightly and give them a boy, a girl, an over and a group each.

Otherwise, the show started with Unders, Overs and Groups so cutting a category isn't necessarily a bad thing.

They could just mash the Overs and Groups together? There's rarely an abundance of standouts in either category so we wouldn't be deprived of much talent if there was only 3/4 slots between them... no idea what the combined category could be called...

... alternatively, just eliminate the overs and increase the size of the other 3 categories. The thought of an increased total boyband capacity is pretty scary though.

Urgh, sounds like one of the worst panels imaginable.

Best news I've ever heard <3

Hmm, that sounds like a really cut-price version. Not Simon Cowell's style. He likes things bigger and better.

I think the only reason he's going back to the private audition rooms is the 'Christopher Malone' thing where an audiences reaction can swing a decision. I think if Christopher had auditioned privately (as per season 1-5) he wouldn't have got through. Just my opinion.

Remember there will be four judges + Simon Cowell via Skype this year (apparently).

As much as Nicole was great last year (from what I've seen, I didn't actually watch the show much last year) I think it'd be best if she did leave. She's funny and cute but part of the fun each series is getting to know a new judge and the audience know Louis, Gary, Sharon and Nicole. A new fresh judge will shake things up and there should be someone who is just as mouthy as Sharon - Mel B would've been good but she's out of the running now.

I think one of the many problems with last year's series was the fact that Nicole "the new judge" has already been on the show before in 2010 so there was little anticipation there for her.

In recent years the times where we've had a stable, unchanging panel the show has grown and when it's been constantly chopped and changed the viewing figures have fallen.

Fixed that for you

What rubbish the Judges made the decision to put Chris through, nothing to do with the crowd.having a say in it.

Here's the interview...

http://www.rte.ie/player/gb/show/10147833/

5.40 minutes in.

Last Request, thank you for the Louis interview.

As for my "rubbish" comment, I think the very positive reaction from the audience clouded the judges opinion. How else could they (apart from Gary) change their minds very soon after?