The X Factor

Surely I can't be the only person who is not missing Simon and Cheryl (and Dannii) from this year's X Factor.

Surprisingly, the new panel of judges actually works! I think Kelly Rowland's American sassiness is quite refreshing. She is rather excitable, a bit like Cheryl was, but we can understand her.

Tulisa has impressed me. I was concerned she would be overpowered by Kelly and Gary, but so far she's done brilliantly. The way she handled that hostile guy from ... Triple Trouble... Have I got that right? ... was brilliant. She remained so calm. I had a lot a respect for her at that moment in time and I am certainly going to be watching out for her decorum in the weeks to come.

I mentioned Gary Barlow a moment ago. I've heard he is the replacement of Simon. Well, we all know he has some very large shoes to fill, but he certainly has a stubbornness about him. Obviously it's hard to tell from the first episode but even Simon would have an initial moment of weakness where he crumbled under the pressure of the first few hopeful auditions, recognising that nerves had got the better of people. Not Gaz! He's tough... I like it! It's empowering...

And as for Louis?! Well, as much as we would miss him if he wasn't there, we still forget that he is...


- Loulabella posting from her iPhone