The X Factor judges Robbie Williams and Ayda are leaving the ITV singing contest before the 2019 series gets underway. The pair joined former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson and X Factor stalwart Simon Cowell on the judging panel in 2018, but Robbie took to Instagram to reveal they would not be reprising their roles this year. Here’s why Robbie and Ayda have left X Factor and whether or not they were fired.
Why did Robbie Williams and Ayda Field leave X Factor?
Robbie Williams and Ayda Field made the decision to leave X Factor due to the pair’s work schedule.
The X Factor judges debuted on the series in 2018 who, along with Louis Tomlinson, replaced Nicole Scherzinger, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh.
Ayda and Robbie both took to their respective Instagram account to reveal the exact reasons for their exits.
Former Take That singer Robbie began: “A quick update from Team Williams… it’s been a very busy year so far. Vegas has been incredible and we cannot wait for June and July to do it all again.”
WHO WON THE X FACTOR 2018?
Robbie continued: “I’ve got the massive @BSTHydePark show on July 14 and I’ve written the lyrics and music for the #RSCBoyInDress show with @guyachambers – opening on November 8.
“As well as all this we’ve got some very big announcements coming soon – but we can’t reveal all yet. Sadly though it’s impossible to do everything…
“We’re gutted to tell you we won’t be able to return to The X Factor this year.
“We will, however, be working on projects with Simon going forward – and as huge fans of the show, we will still be tuning into The X Factor, voting and winding Simon up…x”
Ayda echoed her husband’s message with a very similar statement on her own social media account.
The news comes just one day after Darcey Bussell announced she would be leaving her post as a judge on BBC’s X Factor rating rival, Strictly Come Dancing.
WHERE ARE THE X FACTOR JUDGES’ HOUSES?
ITV and X Factor bosses are yet to unveil who the two new judges will be.
X Factor will be tasked with finding replacements for the judging panel and odds have already emerged as to who could be in the running*.
Sharon Osbourne has emerged as an early favourite to return to the judging panel with odds of 1/2 by Betfair.
The Greatest Dancer coach and pop singer Cheryl is also odds-on with the bookmakers at 4/6 to be cast as a new judge.
A spokesperson for Betfair said: “X Factor has been a revolving door of celebs, quitting or being sacked and then coming back again, only to leave once more,
“We think that trend will continue so we make former judges Sharon Osbourne and Cheryl Cole the odds-on favourites to be in the judging hot seats this year.”
WHAT IS ROBBIE WILLIAMS AND AYDA FIELD’S BABY NAME?
The bookmakers also make any member of the Spice Girls evens to take a seat on the judging panel.
This means any of Mel B, Mel C, Geri Horner, Victoria Beckham or Emma Bunton could all be in line for X Factor roles.
Nile Rodgers, who has stood in as a guest judge before, is currently 2/1 to be unveiled as a permanent judge on the show.
Other names to appear in the run in for the X Factor judge’s roles include Kanye West (16/1), Elton John (4/1) and Darcey Bussell (25/1)
X Factor will return to ITV in Autumn 2019.
*All odds accurate up to Friday, April 12, 2019.