Rita Ora QUITS The Voice for X Factor as she is confirmed as a judge alongside Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Simon Cowell and newcomer Nick Grimshaw
PUBLISHED: 08:32, 16 June 2015 | UPDATED: 09:11, 16 June 2015
They been hotly-tipped for a role on The X Factor judging panel for weeks.
And now it has been confirmed that Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw WILL be joining Simon Cowell on the ITV talent show for this year's series.
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini will also be returning to the panel, completing the line-up and meaning last year's judges Louis Walsh and Mel B are out.
New-look X Factor: Nick Grimshaw, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Rita Ora have posed in the first official X Factor picture as part of the all-new line-up, which also includes show boss Simon Cowell
The news of the new line-up was revealed on The X Factor's official Twitter page on Tuesday, along with a picture of Rita, Nick and Cheryl smiling happily together after their first meeting on Monday.
Rita, 24, will be leaving her position as a coach on BBC's The Voice after just one season after she was reportedly lured by Simon with a £1.5 million contract.
It has also been claimed that part of the reason she jumped ship over to the rival programme due to BBC Radio 1 presenter Nick, who helped to persuade her it would be better for her career.
A source close to the star told MailOnline: 'Grimmy was the one that finally convinced Rita to join the show. Simon was also very persuasive and reminded her it was The X Factor which first made Rita a TV star.
New jobs! Rita and Nick have been confirmed as the new judges on this year's series of The X Factor
'It's never been about money for Rita. She loved her time on The Voice but her diary for early 2016 meant she wouldn't be able to commit to The Voice for a second series.'
'The three judges met for a get together at the Charlotte Street Hotel yesterday evening and they got on like a house on fire and are all excited about the new series of the show.'
As they met on Monday at the central London location, Simon was notably not present due to committments in Los Angeles, but the other three judges had a successful rendez-vous.
Speaking to The Sun's Dan Wootton, a source said: '[The meeting] went incredibly well. They got on like a house on fire. Simon is in LA but he's very excited.'
And, speaking of her brand new role, Rita gushed: 'I am excited to be coming back to The X Factor – I had a ball here in 2012.
'This is a journey I can't wait to embark on to find some talented singers. Its the new generation taking over. Booooom.'
Meanwhile Nick, 30, added: 'I love X Factor and have watched the series religiously since it started, so obviously I'm hugely excited to be joining the show.
BBC leaver: Rita has left her role as a coach on BBC's The Voice after just one season
He's in: Nick, 30, is best known for his role as a BBC Radio 1 presenter, but is set to hit the prime time with his role as a judge on the ITV programme
'Music is my job and my passion and I'm really looking forward to seeing what talent we can find and nurture this year. I can't wait for Judges Houses in Oldham!'
Meanwhile Cheryl, 31, is returning to the X Factor panel for the fifth series, after taking a hiatus of a few years in between 2011 and 2014.
'I haven't been as excited about an X Factor season since I first became a judge,' she said, of her new colleagues.
'The addition of Rita and Grimmy along with some interesting changes we've made to the format has refocused us to do what we do best, finding talent and making stars. I cannot wait to get started!'
She's back! Cheryl Fernandez-Versini is also making her return to the ITV show
Working his magic: Simon Cowell reportedly 'lured' Rita away from the BBC with a hard-to-ignore £1.5 million contract offer
And of course, Simon himself is incredibly pleased with the new-look X Factor.
'It's taken a while!' he said, of the 2015 judging panel. 'But I am very happy to be able to confirm our line-up of judges for The X Factor this year. The combination of Nick, Cheryl and Rita is going to be a lot of fun! They all bring a lot of enthusiasm and passion for music to the show.
'I have a feeling I am in for a bit of a rough time but sometimes you have to embrace the craziness and now, with luck, we hope to find a star.'
Speaking on his BBC Radio 1 show on Tuesday morning, Nick also said:
'It's going to be a lot of fun, and I'm really, really excited about it, and I'm excited that we can finally talk about it now.
'Like I say, I love that show, I watch it religiously every weekend and it's going to be great to be part of it. I'm super excited.'
He also shared a fun picture of himself on Instagram just an hour ahead of the big reveal, raising his coffee cup to his thousands of fans.
It was previously reported that music and TV mogul Simon had been bidding for How We Do hitmaker Rita - who appeared as a guest judge on X Factor in 2012 - for a while.
It had also been suggested that she was offered a £1.5 million contract, as well as luxury travel and unlimited clothing in order to entice her away from The Voice.
Rita, who has released just one studio album, joined the The Voice in early 2015 but came fourth in the competition alongside vocal coaches Will.i.am, Tom Jones and Ricky Wilson.
However, she came fourth on the show, failing to get any of her acts into the final, although she was said to be one of the main draws for the audience when appearing on the fourth season.
Head judge and show boss Simon, who rejoined the panel last year, had launched a three-prong attack, which prioritised Rita's international career by offering to lend her his private jet, among other tempting treats.
It's over: Rita appeared on The Voice for one season alongside Ricky Wilson, Will.i.am and Sir Tom Jones, and BBC bosses are said to be 'reeling' over her decision to jump ship
An ITV source told The Daily Mirror: 'He has launched an extreme charm offensive. He says she can spend what she likies on dresses for the series so she looks great.
'His final part to offer a huge money deal. He upped the contract to £1.5 million,' said the source before adding, 'The deal is massive compared to what the BBC can pay her.'
However, at the time, it was declared by an X Factor spokesperson that no formal decisions had yet been made over the future of the judging panel.
Last year's X Factor saw Simon make his illustrious return, along with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Mel B and judging stalwart Louis Walsh.
Been there before! In 2012, Rita appeared as a guest judge on The X Factor back in the very early days of her music career, along with then-judge Tulisa Contostavlos
In the past: 2014's X factor line-up included former Spice Girl Mel B, and show stalwart Louis Walsh
However, BBC bosses are thought to be angry at Rita's decision to ditch The Voice in order to head over to the rival, and far more popular, show.
A source told the paper: 'It is really disappointing. Rita seems to have chosen cash over credibility. As far as we are concerned this smacks of Simon Cowell being desperate to revive an ailing X Factor that has been beaten by Strictly for years in terms of success.
'We wish Rita well but are sorry she feels she has to go. We saw the potential in her first and now Cowell is coming in and stealing her away.'
The new judging panel isn't the only alteration X Factor is seeing this year: long-time presenter Dermot O'Leary has left his job as the host of the show, and is being replaced by Caroline Flack and former contestant Olly Murs.
Meanwhile, in a recent interview, Louis warned Nick that he'll have to work hard in his new prime time role.
While speculating that Nick would be replacing him, he told The Daily Star: 'He's got my job. I've flat out left. I'm not going back to the show, absolutely gone. I'm pleased as I get to do my actual job now.'
Taking the reins: Olly Murs and Caroline Flack have already been revealed as the presenters for the new series of X Factor, taking over from Dermot O'Leary
He'll be missed: Earlier this year, Dermot - who had presented the show for eight years - announced his departure
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3126024/Rita-Ora-quits-Voice-revealed-judge-X-Factor-alongside-Nick-Grimshaw-returning-judges-Cheryl-Fernandez-Versini-Simon-Cowell.html#ixzz3dD9C8Kkj
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Excited to be back on The X Factor. Welcome to the show Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw.. and of course Cowell himself 😏 this year is going to be so much fun!!! We're so excited to find the next star 🌟
