The auditions for a new music star begin

It was the evening of Monday, August 3 when some of us realised the summer of 2015 was almost over because Simon Cowell's juggernaut music contest would soon be with us once more, taking us all the way to December. Yes, as the first advert for The X Factor (ITV, 8pm) launched on ITV, parents wondered where the time had gone as they bought new uniforms for their kids. It was a sobering thought that their children had never known a time when the all singing, occasionally dancing show didn't dominate Saturday nights. Of course for many of those years, there has been a sense of consistency, with judge Louis Walsh weathering controversy over the likes of Jedward and his pronunciation of 'Wagner'. Host Dermot O'Leary left many a heart fluttering as his ad-libbed dances gathered the sort of audience he once could only have dreamed of when he earned his TV stripes on Big Brother's Little Brother. But TXF has not remained the jewel in ITV's weekend crown for more than a decade without taking a few risks, and this year fans can enjoy the biggest shake-up to the show in a while. Louis has moved on, so DJ Nick Grimshaw and singer/The Voice mentor Rita Ora will be attempting to fill the gap with their own blend of wit and charm. However, while some of us fear change, rest assured that series veterans Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini will be back on the judging panel to sort the musical wheat from the tone deaf chaff. Obviously Olly Murs is no stranger to the series having been one of its most successful runners up. He also proved to be a dab hand at fronting sister show The Xtra Factor, so there is perhaps no surprise to find him co-hosting the new run with fellow ITV2 graduate Caroline Flack. The cast may have changed a little, but the format remains the same, with arguably the best part of the contest kicking off here. Yes, it's the auditions stage where the good, bad and plain deluded seize their chance to either make a great impression, or leave millions laughing over their Saturday night takeaways. And with so many changes, there are plenty of questions on fans' lips: has Simon mellowed over the years or will he be just as scathing as ever? Will Ms Ora's impressive turn on The Voice see her being a little more cutting in her criticism? How will Cheryl get on with the new girl?