I’LL BE THE JUDGE! NICOLE’S TOP PICKS

The former Pussy cat Doll on Play boys, guilty pleasures and Pandora’s Box

J udge Nicole Scherzinger, 39, shares her thoughts on the brand-new season The X Factor UK.

THE IDEAL CONTESTANT

I’m always looking for talent over entertainment value. Real talent speaks for itself and is entertaining on its own merits.

THE ONE TO WATCH

There’s a girl called Grace who is very unassuming. She comes out a little bubbly, flighty and you don’t really know what to expect. Then when she sings her original song “Pandora’s Box”, she opens up to her soul and it’s clear. You see straight into her – you connect with that.

She makes me cry like a baby every time she performs.

WHO’S THE REAL CHARACTER THIS YEAR?

Danny Lambo. He calls himself that because he has three Lamborghinis. He’s a self-made multimillionaire, as he says. He is a very different character. He came to us singing an original song titled “Playboys”. The lyrics were something like, “Hoes, boats, Gucci, Prada, selfies with the hotties.”

SIMON’S DANCING

Dude, I have seen Simon Cowell dance! I think I have made Simon dance. It might be just a finger, but it’s dancing! He does the very slow raise the roof pump. Hey, that counts!

WHAT TO EXPECT

We’ve got a couple of the guilty pleasures! Then we have some characters who have some real talent. There’s a balance this year.