X Factor 2015 judges: Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora officially confirmed to join show

It is thought Grimshaw will continue to host his Radio 1 breaksfast show, while Rita Ora appears to have jumped ship from BBC1's The Voice

Nick Grimshaw, Cheryl Fernandez-Visini and Rita Ora (SYCO/THAMES TV)

ITV has poached two of the BBC’s biggest names to serve on The X Factor judging panel this autumn.

Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora have been confirmed to join the next series of ITV’s flagship entertainment show when it returns later this year.

The pair have both been rumoured to join the panel alongside Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini for a number of weeks.

The upcoming series will also welcome brand new hosts Caroline Flack and Olly Murs after Dermot O’Leary announced his departure from the show after fronting The X Factor for eight years.

Radio 1 DJ Grimshaw will replace long-serving judge Louis Walsh, while The Voice coach Rita Ora will fill the fourth position on the panel vacated by Mel B.

It is understood the BBC wants Grimshaw to continue hosting his morning breakfast show and has no plans to replace him if he joins the ITV singing contest.

Simon Cowell has said he likes Mancunian Grimshaw because of his ability to appeal to Northern audiences

Grimshaw took over the Radio 1 breakfast show from Moyles in 2012 but has lost hundreds of thousands of listeners as the station has attempted to attract a younger audience.

Cowell is thought to have chosen the 30-year-old Mancunian because of his ability to appeal to Northern audiences.

Ora served as a guest judge on The X Factor in 2012, and went on to become one of the four coaches on BBC1’s The Voice in 2015.

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