X Factor back for fifth series

Updated 13.03 Sat Aug 16 2008
Keywords: Jordin Sparks, Ant and Dec, American Idol, X Factor, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue, Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne

X Factor returns for another season on ITV1 from Saturday, with a new line-up featuring Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole.

Former judge Sharon Osbourne was replaced by Cole following a fall-out with Danni Minogue during the last series.

Judge Simon Cowell said he is looking for the new Amy Winehouse in this year's X Factor

This year's audition highlights include a pensioner, the sister of a successful boy band member and a duo in Wales named Ant n' Seb.

Those behind the show have said that there had been a record-breaking number of applications, with tens of thousands of hopefuls attending auditions all around the UK.

Judge Simon Cowell said he is looking for the new Amy Winehouse this year.

He said: "I want someone who is going to represent this country all over the world for the next 10, 20 years - that's what I'm looking for.

"I want somebody who is different and unique and I want to find somebody as good as Amy Winehouse - I'd love to do that."

Meanwhile, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks said Simon Cowell is not as nasty as he makes out.

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