EXCLUSIVE! Union J’s Josh Cuthbert on new X Factor judges: ‘Nick Grimshaw is everything the show needs, he’s gonna rock it!’

Guess what! The X Factor is back TONIGHT but it’s all change with a brand new set of judges and even a pair of new hosts in the form of Caroline Flack and Olly Murs.

But will the new panel – Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw – bring some much-needed spark to make the talent show feel fresh and exciting again?

Well, Union J’s Josh Cuthbert, who competed on the series with his band in 2012, thinks so and the boyband star says it’s down to one person in particular – BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw.

Josh exclusively told heatworld: “I think Nick Grimshaw has been everything that the show has ever needed. The Radio 1 market that he’ll bring in, I don’t think are typical X Factor viewers, so I think that’s a clever move by Simon Cowell.

“I think he’s my favourite judge, just because we’ve met him quite a few times. He’s such a wicked guy and no one like him has ever been on the judging panel, so he’s completely different. He’s gonna rock it.”

In addition to Nick, Josh thinks X Factor boss Simon has done a great job by poaching Rita Ora from rival show The Voice, especially since she approved of his band during their original audition.

When asked how he thinks she’ll do, Josh said: “When we actually auditioned for X Factor as a three piece before George [Shelley] got added, we had Rita Ora as a judge and she gave us a ‘yes’, so I can only say good things about her.

“She’s such a good judge on The Voice, she’s done it before, it’s such a good experience and X Factor’s a much better show than The Voice so she’s going to thrive off it.”

Meanwhile, does he have any advice for hopefuls auditioning for this year’s show? Of course he does!

Josh said: “You have to be different. Because it’s been on for so many years now you have to be different.

“With all the other finalists out there just try and be unique and have an attitude, not a bad attitude, have an attitude and have a say. Don’t be scared to have a personality on the show.”

The X Factor starts tonight on ITV1 at 8pm.

Josh was speaking ahead of his gig with Union J at Thorpe Park’s Island Beats.

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