Proving once again that if its not broke don't fix it - the 2016 X Factor judges has been officially revealed, and as expected Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger will be rejoining Simon Cowell on the panel.
The famous four will be joined on the new series by host Dermot O'Leary, who is returning to the show after a year's sabbatical. Last year's experiment with a new judging panel and presenters was deemed a failure as TV audiences switched off in droves.
For Louis Walsh it's not the first time that he's been has been let go and then invited back. The Mayo man was briefly dumped in 2007 and replaced with choreographer Brian Friedman, but he returned after only a few audition episodes when Cowell admitted he had made a mistake.
Last year he was ditched in favour of the younger and more 'hip', Nick Grimshaw. However he failed to win favour with TV audiences as it seemed they preferred the more mature outlook (the combined age of the re-assembled panel is 219), so it was only a matter of time before Louis was asked back. Despite everything he says he's excited to return.
Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne delighted to be back on The X Factor
"He'd say otherwise but I knew Simon missed me last year!", Louis joked. "I'm delighted to be back on the panel, especially beside my two favourite female judges Sharon and Nicole, and I'm looking forward to taking them all back to Dublin this year when we head there for auditions."
Also back is Louis's giggling companion Sharon Osbourne. She recently announced her split from rocker husband Ozzy and was one of the original judges on the series, appearing on the panel from 2004 to 2007 before returning in 2013.
"I'm overjoyed about going back to The X Factor, sitting with Lou, gorgeous Nicole and naughty Simon. But most of all, I can't wait to meet baby Eric", she said.
Mind you her comments are in neat contrast to the slagging off she gave to TV talent shows a couple of years ago, when she described programmes such as The X Factor as "too contrived, boring, boring, boring".
She told US chat show host Conan O'Brien that "if one more person stands in front of me and sings. I tell you, I've had it with people singing in front of me" and she also hit out at all the sob-stories on these shows saying "they've all got one lung, one kidney...". Ouch!
Also back is Nicole Scherzinger who made a big impression as a judge on the series in 2012, when her contestant James Arthur won, and again in 2013.
The former Pussycat Doll said: "I can't wait to be back in the UK and on the show with the best judges sitting alongside me on the panel. I'm excited about discovering, mentoring and winning with an exciting new act this year. And having had winning contestants in the past, Simon knows I will do it."
Nicole Scherzinger back on X Factor panel
Meanwhile Irish interest isn't just confined to Louis Walsh with former Westlife star and 2FM presenter Nicky Byrne tipped for the presenter role on spin-off show The Xtra Factor, with recent reports saying the singer had impressed bosses during a meeting in London.
Laura Whitmore has also been was linked to the show after hanging up her jungle boots, though its reported that ITV would have concerns about hiring two Irish presenters.
Is Nicky destined for the Xtra factor?
Auditions will begin next week with a visit to Croke Park in Dublin set for July 1 and this year it's all back to basics with the return of the smaller audition rooms.
