Alesha unleashed! Dixon channels her inner Cowell to be the ‘nasty’ judge on his new talent show
TALENT show contestants usually breathe a sigh of relief when faced with a verdict from kind-hearted judge Alesha Dixon.
But not any more, perhaps. The stunning pop star’s forgiving eye has been replaced with an icy stare as she becomes ‘Ms Nasty’, according to sources on ITV’s talent TV show Walk The Line, which starts tonight.
Assuming the mantle of hardto-please Simon Cowell, whose firm Syco co-produces the series, the former Mis-Teeq singer is said to be ‘channelling her inner Simon’ and keen to pounce on any mistakes.
An insider said: ‘While the rest of the judges are kind and tame, Alesha has really come out of herself.
‘She is taking Cowell’s lead when it comes to critiquing the wannabes. She certainly tells
‘She isn’t scared to be acid-tongued at times’
it how it is and isn’t scared to be a little acid-tongued at times.
‘On previous shows Alesha has been the more sympathetic one, but she has certainly taken on the Ms Nasty mantle this time. She won’t be holding back.’
The 43-year-old motherof-two, who has been a judge on Britain’s Got Talent with Cowell since 2012, is joined on the Walk The Line judging panel by Take That star Gary Barlow, comedian Dawn French and singer Craig David.
However, Cowell himself will not be passing acerbic judgments on the singers, bands and choirs competing for the £500,000 top prize.
The return of Barlow, 50, marks an end to a feud with Cowell that was ignited when the singer left The X Factor in 2013 following rows between the two of them.
A biography of Cowell by journalist Tom Bower claimed he viewed Barlow as ‘wooden’ and blamed him for falling audience figures.
Cowell, 62, is also said to have consulted copyright lawyers in 2016 because he felt Barlow’s BBC talent show Let It Shine was so similar to The X Factor.
But insiders say the bitterness evaporated during a telephone call. ‘Simon rang Gary and offered him Walk The Line,’ said one. ‘They decided to leave the past behind them and are now friends again.
‘Gary was delighted to be given the opportunity and will sit in Simon’s chair in the role viewed as head judge.’
Discussing Barlow’s appointment last month, Cowell said: ‘Gary’s musical pedigree is second to none.
‘We have known each other a long time now, so I am delighted he is picking up the baton for me. I know he will do a fantastic job.’
Walk The Line, which is hosted by broadcaster Maya Jama, will be screened nightly this week, with the final on Friday.
The top two performers each evening can take a cash prize and quit – or ‘walk the line’ by competing against new contestants the next night, aiming for more cash with each episode.