Cowell: It’s a big Yes for Robbie and Ayda
Couple to be X Factor judges
X Factor bosses have lined up Robbie Williams and wife Ayda Field in a €11million deal to become the first married couple to sit on the judging panel.
The singer and US actress will join Simon Cowell on the 15th series, which is back on ITV in August.
Producers are “over the moon” to have landed the pair, who replace departing judges Louis Walsh, 65, and Nicole Scherzinger, 39.
Ayda, 39, is a regular guest presenter on ITV’S Loose Women. Born in California, she began her career on US soap Days of Our Lives.
She and Robbie were introduced by a friend in 2006 and married three years later. Her knowledge of the music industry comes from her 12 years with Williams.
One source said: “She thinks doing the show with Robbie will be a lot of fun – particularly as she wants to beat her husband at his own game. She can’t wait to get started.”
Robbie, 44, becomes the second member of Take That to join the panel after Gary Barlow, 47, replaced Cowell for two series from 2011.
Cowell, 58, has long been a fan of Robbie, who has appeared during the judges’ houses stage and lives near him in West London.
Earlier this month Robbie attended the final of Britain’s Got Talent, while Ayda interviewed Cowell for Loose Women, with Robbie pretending to be her butler.
Ayda is close to Simon’s girlfriend Lauren Silverman while their children Teddy, five, and Charlie, three, are pals with Eric Cowell, four.
Sharon Osbourne will not take part in the auditions section of the show, it was announced last week.
Ayda wants to beat her husband at his own game. She can’t wait SHOW SOURCE ON WIFE AND ROBBIE JOINING SHOW