The X Factor 2016: Nicole Scherzinger lets her hair down as judges reunite for first audition

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Jennifer Ruby10 June 2016
The Weekender

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Nicole Scherzinger was on good form as she arrived for the first X Factor auditions of the year.

The former Pussycat Doll seemed to be having a whale of the time as she hit the red carpet in Liverpool, reuniting with fellow judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.

To make sure that her big comeback didn’t go unnoticed, the pop star wore a bright red trouser suit and silver metallic top for the occasion.

Instead of heading straight in to hear the first act, the 37-year-old let her hair down as she joked with fans and posed with her very own Leicester FC shirt.

Red alert: Nicole Scherzinger makes a dramatic entrance to the auditions 
PA

Scherzinger wasn’t the only one who seemed incredibly happy to be back in the X Factor fold as returnee Walsh was also in great spirits.

After a year away from the judging panel, Walsh showed off for the camera by making a huge ‘X’ with his arms.

Osbourne looked rather demure for her big return, wearing a plain black trouser suit, while Cowell stuck to his tried and tested uniform of flared blue jeans and a white shirt.

Host Dermot O’Leary also walked the red carpet following a year away from the show, after Caroline Flack and Olly Murs presented in 2015.

ITV recently announced that they would be reverting back to their old line-up, after mixing things up last year with new faces Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw.

Speaking about last year’s lower ratings, Walsh said: “I think being away from the show for a year was a really good thing for me.

“Ratings weren’t good, so I knew watching the first show it wasn’t going to work.

“I called Simon really late at night, and said, ‘You’ve messed with it too much. It’s not working.’ He didn’t say anything for a second, and then he said ‘Maybe you’re right’.”

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