So, now we know that Louis, Sharon, Nicole and Simon are this year's panel; which category would you like each judge to have?

For me, I'd go for:

Simon: Girls - I think it makes a lot of sense for Simon to work with this category again. It would be nice for the show to find a young 'pop girl' to remain relevant, and I believe Simon is best suited to doing that. I mean, with his help, Louisa could still be big. He deserves a more current category anyways, and I think it'll re-instate his competitiveness and integrity if he actually has a good team.

Nicole: Groups - She's never worked with this category and I think she'd do well. She's been in a group herself, and I could see her finding another young girl group. The X Factor is responsible for One Direction, Little Mix and Fifth Harmony - the biggest groups in recent times. It obviously works, so lets do it again.

Sharon: Boys - I think she'd take on the 'mother' role very well here. I am keen to see Sharon challenged with a more contemporary category. I think she'd do well, but just needs to be given a chance. There is no point in giving her the overs again - it's boring and predictable.

Louis: Overs - Yes, probably a bit predictable. With this particular panel though, it does make the most sense.

Sounds good to me, what we will probably get though is

Louis - groups
Simon - boys
Nicole - girls
Sharon - overs

Nicole-Groups
Simon-Boys
Sharon- Girls(they won't want for another girl to win so that why Sharon will be given them)
Louis-Overs

Simon Girls
Louis Boys
Sharron Groups
Nichole Overs

What I would like:
Simon - Groups
Nicole - Overs
Sharon - Boys
Louis - Girls

What I think:
Simon - Groups
Nicole - Boys
Sharon - Girls
Louis - Overs

Louis will NEVER have the girls. I think producers will want a boy to win this year so Simon or Nicole will get that category.

I'd like:
Nicole - Groups
Louis - Overs
Sharon - Boys
Simon - Girls

Do u not think they'll switch it up this year though and have mixed teams? The acts are drawn out of a hat kind of thing to decide which judge they have?

Unless they want to surprise it, it will be

Nicole - Girls
Sharon - Overs
Louis - Groups
Simon - Boys

I can easily see it being:

Simon - Girls
Sharon - Overs
Louis - Groups
Nicole - Boys

But I'd like to see:

Simon - Girls
Sharon - Boys
Louis - Overs
Nicole - Groups

Purely as the twice where a female judge has mentored the Groups, they've went the furthest, with the exception of Louis but he's better suited to the Overs since they just want to throw anyone not marketable enough in there now regardless of age

in reality i dont think it really matters as i dont believe the panel do much mentoring or have a huge amount of say in who gets selected to go through at the various stages, apart from cowell himself

i would expect cowell to have either the boys or the groups this year as he is going to be looking for a replacement for 1D. so he will want to make sure the right contestants are in the boys category to then be eliminated and reformed as part of a "huge surprise" as a boyband for judges houses, or have the groups himself for the lives so he can have as much influence as possible over his chosen act.

I'd like
Nicole - Groups
Louis - Overs
Simon - Boys
Sharon - Girls

Nicole - Groups
Simon - Boys
Sharon - Overs
Louis - Girls

Such a shame, would be interesting (and entertaining) to see.

They will probably try and push a boy band this year to be the successors to One Direction. So that means the groups will go to Simon or most likely Nicole. That way Nicole can coo after their performances about how all the girls love them, how sexy they are etc.

Sharon has done well with the Overs before - in series 2 three of her acts got into the final 5, and of course she won with Sam Bailey

I think she'd do well with Boys (she did with Tabby), but her stint with the girls was a disaster (two in the sing off week 1 and the third girl disqualified in week 3 )

She's never had the Groups so that would give a fresh element to the show I think

The Australian version (and quite a few other versions around the world) has no problem with giving a male mentor the girls. The UK version is NEVER going to do that, unless all of the producers are replaced.

Louis has always insisted on it... I agree though it would be hilarious if he did!