X-Factor / Dan Fitch / 17 September 2010 / 1

Dan Fitch looks at who could be in the frame to be a judge of the American X-Factor.

Simon Cowell has ditched American Idol is to launch an American version of his hit UK show The X-Factor.

Cowell of course, will act as one of the four judges/mentors, but just who will make up the other three spots? We take a look at the chances of the likely candidates.

Piers Morgan - 1/5

Pros: Is a co-judge with Simon Cowell on Britain's Got Talent and has already made a name for himself in the US on America's Got Talent.

Cons: The closest connection that Morgan has with the music industry is the fact that he used to edit the showbiz section of The Sun newspaper. Lacks musical credibility and wouldn't be able to continue playing the British bad guy role on the American X-Factor, when Cowell himself is earmarked for that position.

Louis Walsh - 1/5

Pros: Has worked with Simon Cowell for years, both in front of the camera and in the record industry. Walsh has a lot of experience of these type of reality shows and has been an extremely successful manager of artists in the UK and Ireland.

Cons: None of the acts managed by Walsh have made it in the States, which results in a lack of credibility. Walsh has also previously been dropped as a judge from the UK X-Factor, before being hastily brought back by Cowell. It's most likely that he will left to fly the flag in the UK, where he remains a very recognisable television presence.

Kelly Rowland - 2/5

Pros: The former Destiny's Child star admitted on a UK talk show that she had met with Simon Cowell 'countless times' to discuss joining the judging panel of The X-Factor and suggested that she is in the frame to join the show.

Cons: Cowell is likely to be considering a lot of people for a role as a judge. Destiny's Child were huge, but everyone knows that it wasn't Rowland who was the star in that act. Rowland seems to fall between two stools - she is not currently a big recording artist, yet neither is she a huge name from the past.

Paula Abdul - 3/5

Pros: Simon Cowell had a great relationship with Abdul when they appeared as judges together on American Idol. It seems likely that he will want two female judges on his panel and Abdul would be a credible choice to appear alongside a younger female performer.

Cons: Cowell will surely be looking to push the X-Factor as something fresh and new. With that in mind, will he want to appoint a judge so identifiable with American Idol?

Cheryl Tweedy - 4/5

Pros: The Girls Aloud singer has been a huge hit as a judge on the UK X-Factor, is beautiful and has definite star charisma. She will be desperate to land the gig in order to launch her solo recording career in the States and Simon Cowell is obviously a big fan, having suggested that she would be a hit in the US.

Cons: Would America be able to understand her Geordie accent? Cheryl's current lack of US profile also counts against her. What is her credibility as a judge going to be like if her own music flops in America?

Nicole Scherzinger - 4/5

Pros: Has appeared on the UK X-Factor as a guest judge and as an advisor to the judges when they pick their finalists. Scherzinger stepped in for Dannii Minogue during her recent pregnancy and then for a second time, when Cheryl Tweedy contracted malaria. Both Louis Walsh and host Dermot Leary named her as the best of the guest judges and she seems to be a serious contender.

Cons: With her girlband background, does she have too similar a background to Cowell's favourite Cheryl Tweedy?

Katy Perry - 4/5

Pros: Made a big impression as a guest judge on the UK X-Factor, where she proved to be both funny and opinionated. The fact that Perry currently has a successful music career, gives her a certain credibility.

Cons: Unlike many of the other potential judges, Perry is at the beginning of her musical career and may not be ready to swap the recording studio for the judges' hot seat just yet.

Tommy Mottola - 5/5

Pros: Simon Cowell has said that he wants one of his fellow judges to have a record industry background, as he does. He mentioned Tommy Mottola by name, as someone who would be flamboyant, knowledgeable and a good choice for the show. Mottola is a former boss of Sony Music, where he discovered Mariah Carey, who he would eventually marry and then divorce.

Cons: As well as being considered for a role as a judge alongside Cowell on the X-Factor, Mottola has been reputedly lined up to replace him on American Idol. Does he want to join an established show that could prove to be a sinking ship, or take a chance on a brand new venture?

So we could be looking at a judging panel that includes Simon Cowell, Tommy Mottola and any two out of Cheryl Tweedy, Nicole Scherzinger and Katy Perry.

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1. Dolores | 26 September 2010

   Without Paula on the panel we'l be seeing last years 'American Idol'. It will be a flop. Simon and Paula made AI.
   Please Simon, sign her at any price.

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