Barlow warns X Factor hopefuls to expect pressure

X Factor judge Gary Barlow has warned hopefuls that the show is about "hard work" as well as talent. Credit: PA Wire

Gary Barlow has warned this year's X Factor finalists that talent is not enough and they will have to be able to "thrive" on pressure if they want to win the show.

The Take That star, who made his debut as a judge on the ITV1 talent show last year, said:

The new series of the X Factor starts on Saturday and will see Barlow return to the judging panel alongside Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Tulisa.

Walsh, who has been with the show since it began, admitted he wished he had stepped into Simon Cowell's shoes to lead the judging panel instead of Barlow.

The Irishman, who is returning for his ninth series on the show has suggested that he will bow out of after 10 years because he does not want to turn into Sir Bruce Forsyth.

He told the Radio Times:

He also admitted to the magazine that the show has "suffered without Simon Cowell" on the judging panel adding that it's "like the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger".