X Factor 2018: Simon Cowell feared Robbie Williams would QUIT before live shows
X FACTOR 2018 has been home to a significant shake-up on the judging panel compared with recent years, but the show’s creator Simon Cowell revealed he thought one judge might call it quits early on.
X Factor: Robbie Williams puts Burgandy and Panda into a group
Joining Simon Cowell on the ITV singing competition this year is Louis Tomlinson, Ayda Field and her husband Robbie Williams.
For all three of them, it is their debut outing as an X Factor judge.
Former Take That member Robbie has plenty of experience in the music business, but Simon worried he would bow out in the audition stages.
"I always had that worry which is, you know, after three hours he might just go, 'I've had enough’,” Simon told The Sun.
It's almost like he's back in a group again
“But I would say almost every day we would finish and then he'd email me afterwards, 'Loved today, best day of my life blah, blah, blah'.
"It's almost like he's back in a group again, if that makes sense."
As viewers will know, Robbie has settled in nicely in his new position.
Tonight will see him make some important decisions though as he must whittle his acts down to just six groups in the Six Chair Challenge.
Robbie is in charge of the Groups category, a natural decision given his history as a band member.
He stunned Simon last week during the Six Chair Challenge for the Overs category.
When Ayda was ready to give contestant Burgundy Williams the boot, Robbie made a surprise decision.
“Burgundy, stop, stop stop,” he yelled. “Babe bring your chair back to the middle, I’ve got an idea.”
“Burgundy I don’t want to see this talent leave this stage and country forever. I want Panda to come up here too,” he continued.
Panda Ross then came back to the stage, where she joined Burgundy.
“Ladies this year, I am the mentor of the groups and I want you two, as a group, with me,” Robbie explained.
The pair then performed a rendition of Never Enough from The Greatest Showman which wowed the crowd.
Robbie concluded: “Welcome back to the competition girls, that was amazing.”
While Simon remarked: “Guys, magic happens when you don’t expect it.
“That was amazing, well done Robbie.”
X Factor continues tonight at 8.35pm on ITV.