Wild thing: Cheryl Cole arrives at Glasgow airport in a leopard-print dress and platform sandals for the first X Factor auditionsFresh from her Woman Of The Year win at the Glamour Awards in London last night, Cheryl Cole dashed up to Glasgow this morning to kick off the first round of X Factor auditions.
And it wasn't just her outfit that was new, as the new judges line-up - albeit temporary was unveiled in Glasgow.
Joining established judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl was former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell - who is stepping in for popular judge Dannii Minogue while she prepares to give birth to her first child.
Look away Dannii Minogue? The new look line up unveiled at today's X Factor auditionsHoping to make a stylish impression on first day of the seventh series, Cole teamed her loud dress with a £1,035 pair of Christian Louboutin lizard and python platform sandals.
While the 26-year-old arrived in Scotland today, judges Cowell, Walsh and Halliwell spent the night in the prestigious five star Hotel Du Vin.
Former Spice Girl Halliwell, 37, looked dressed down as she checked into the hotel wearing a pair of distressed jeans, baggy jumper and old boots.
Halliwell is stepping in for Minogue, 38, for the auditions because the Australian singer is Down Under expecting to give birth to her first child next month, before returning to the show in September.
The appointment of Halliwell as Minogue's maternity cover comes after months of speculation over who would be her temporary replacement
Super slim: Cole nervously checks the loose-fitting neckline of her dress as she gets a lift in the airportHalliwell's former Spice Girl bandmate Mel B had teased the press she was in the frame, while Kylie Minogue was also touted as a possible judge.
Flamboyant: Cole wore a £1,035 pair of Christian Louboutin lizard and python platform sandalsWriting on her Twitter page today, Minogue said: 'Go Geri! Give 'em some 'spice' at the @TheXFactor auditions in Glasgow today. Good luck to everyone who's auditioning.'
Ironically, Halliwell was partially responsible for Cole's fame after she was on the judging panel for X Factor predecessor Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.
In 2008, she said: ''I'm so proud of Cheryl Cole. I really fought hard to put her through. I love that I opened that little window of opportunity for her and now she’s run with it.'
However, Cole hasn't been so complimentary in response. During her first year as an X Factor judge, she complained too many contestants were telling her they wanted to be as successful at the Spice Girls.
She moaned: 'We've been around for six years - they were around for 18 months.
'We recognise what the Spice Girls did, but it really annoys me when you meet girls who go: "We wannabe the next Spice Girls."
Maternity cover: Geri Halliwell, pictured heading to auditions today (left) and arriving at her hotel last night, is stepping in for pregnant Dannii Minogue
The new girl: Konnie Huq who has taken over from Holly Willoughby as the host of the Xtra Factor seen today'Yes, they had worldwide domination, but they fell out, bitched about each other and went their separate ways.
''We've been around all this time, fighting to climb each step of the ladder, putting our hearts into everything.'
Despite reports Cowell was considering replacing Minogue permanently with another judge, the Australian singer proved herself one of the more credible judges on the panel last year and easily triumphed Cole in the fashion stakes with her stylish ensembles.
After being beaten by Minogue last year, it looks like Cole will be pulling out all the stops this time round with the help of her two stylists Victoria Adcock and Frank Strachan.
Star search: Judges Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh head to the auditions
Frenzy: Cowell negotiates his many fans as he signs autograph for well wishersCole spends an estimated £45,000-a-year on styling, while Minogue has always dressed herself.
Flashback: Halliwell and Walsh on Popstars: The Rivals judging panel in 2002The Girls Aloud singer will also be hoping to make her third series a hat-trick of wins, after her acts Alexandra Burke and Joe McElderry won the 2008 and 2009 series.
This year, the X Factor bosses will travel to the Republic of Ireland for auditions, following the success of vocally-challenged twins Jedward, aka John and Edward Grimes.
X Factor auditions will take place in Dublin on June 28 - although it is unknown if Irish viewers will be able to vote for any homegrown talent on the show.
Last year, Walsh repeatedly told Jedward 'everyone in Ireland is rooting for you', only for TV bosses to reveal Irish audiences were unable to vote in the British show.
The next auditions take place in Birmingham on Sunday and Monday, London from 21-24 June, Cardiff on 2 July and Manchester from 9-11 July.
The live shows will begin in October, when Minogue will have returned from Australia to take her place on the judging panel
source :dailymail
