As dished on TVSA last year, M-Net has been hott on the heels of Simon Cowell's new American X-Factor.
The latest: they have it in bag. It'll be on M-Net Satellite and Terrestrial, starting round about the same time it premieres in the US: September 2011.
Word from my mole is that it will most likely be on in the 17h00 to 19h00 timeslot on Sundays, where Idols always is. If it is, Idols 7 will be on mid-year, then X-Factor follows.
Between then and now the judges are being confirmed and the auditions are taking place. The auditions started in Los Angeles this past Sunday (27 March) and 18 000 turned up for them. If
reports are to be believed it was a record turnout for auditions in the city.
As for who'll be judging alongside Simon, the full judging panel hasn't been confirmed. You've probs seen all the rumours about who's been approached but so far only one judge has been confirmed along with Simon: record producer Antonio "L.A." Reid.
Mariah Carey was in the thick of things at one stage but isn't any more because of her pregnancy. Her twins are due on
14 May.
Those rumoured to have been shortlisted include Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and ... George Michael - TVSA members
ThatDude and
Segololo suggested he should be a judge on American Idol when they were searching for new judges so it's good to see Simon's been listening.
Cheryl Cole (a judge on the UK X-Factor) was also on the possibility list but got removed
because of her accent.
If you're not sure of the format, check out the Hott Rumour article, which has all the ins and out about it:
Hott Rumour!