Top 10 Best X-Factor Judges

With a show like The X Factor, where finding talent is the goal, the people in the judging chairs make all the difference. Some judges have become icons of the show, shaping it with their charisma, brutal honesty, humor, and genuine passion for discovering new talent.

Do you prefer the tell-it-like-it-is approach of certain judges, or maybe the encouraging and supportive vibe some others brought to the table? Either way, your opinion counts. Join in voting for your favorite judges and see who makes it to the top.

The Top Ten

Simon Cowell

Simon Phillip Cowell (born October 7, 1959) is an English television personality, entrepreneur, record executive, philanthropist, and film and television producer. He gained fame as a judge on several talent shows including Pop Idol, The X Factor UK, and Britain's Got Talent. Cowell also created the... read more

Simon Cowell is actually my favorite judge of all time.
#1. If it weren't for Simon Cowell, he wouldn't have discovered so many amazing artists like Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, etc.
#2. He gave golden buzzers to all those talented kids like Jackie Evancho, Grace VanderWaal, Darci Lynne (and her adorable singing puppet), and then who could forget my favorite, Angelica Hale! Oh my god, she was awesome!
#3. He also has a great sense of humor. Some girl was singing on American Idol, and Simon was literally dead with laughter. The contestant took it so well!
#4. He's one of the only people who actually know what talent is. His attitude toward the contestants doesn't bother me at all because, honestly, some of them are so rude to him. People like Abby Lisa or Triple Trouble, or this one girl who threw a massive tantrum - what the actual hell - when she didn't get anything and literally shoved the camera guy.
#5. What would X Factor, America's Got Talent, or American Idol be without Simon Cowell?
Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger, born Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente on June 29, 1978, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She first rose to fame as the lead singer of the pop and R&B group The Pussycat Dolls. Scherzinger has also appeared as a judge on various talent... read more

In my opinion, she's better than Simon the snake because she doesn't tell other judges to "shut up" when they are just giving their opinions, which is what they are supposed to do.

She's the best female judge ever. She's beautiful, smart, she can sing, she can dance, and she can do opera! I mean, she is just so bloody stunning. I love her!

She can actually sing, dance, act, and is multitalented. The best judge ever - her energy lifts the show, and I would not watch the show if she weren't in it.
Tulisa Contostavlos

Tula Paulinea "Tulisa" Contostavlos is a British singer-songwriter, actress, and television personality. She gained fame as a member of the hip hop group N-Dubz. Tulisa also served as a judge on the UK version of The X Factor.

Feisty, fiery, and bolshy, Tulisa had that great edge as a judge. She's a born fighter who was committed to her acts.

She was fiery! Feisty! Amazing! She was one of the best judges X Factor has ever seen! Tulisa needs to make a comeback to X Factor!

Stunning! Just amazing! They need to bring her back!
Gary Barlow

Gary Barlow OBE is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the frontman and lead vocalist of the British pop group Take That. In addition to his work with the band, he has released solo albums, written music for film and television, and served as a judge on television... read more

He's a very honest, decent, and loyal man with a voice of pure gold. Vote GazzaB!

He writes great songs, and he's funny.

Funny, smart, and actually musically gifted (unlike all of the other male judges).
Cheryl Cole

Cheryl Ann Tweedy (formerly Cheryl Cole and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini), known mononymously as Cheryl, is an English singer, dancer, and television personality.
She rose to fame in late 2002 as a member of the girl group Girls Aloud, formed on ITV's Popstars: The Rivals, and remained with the group... read more

She's simply amazing! I adore her songs, and she is a good specialist in the field of music. Though Cheryl is pretty young, she's a really wise person. And above all, she is so kind inside! She can always support and encourage participants.

She is just amazing! I love her voice, she is pretty, her comments are always good, I just LOVE listening to her when she speaks, and above all, I just love her smile.

Cheryl is quite decent among the judges.
She never teases the unfit candidates.
Louis Walsh

Let's face it, X Factor isn't the same without Louis. All the jokes, the mistakes, the arguments with Simon Cowell, the crazy contestant choices... Last year, X Factor was so bland without him because he brought something different to the table while everyone else tries to copy Simon's style. Thank goodness he's returning!

Hands down, the absolute best. Why isn't he higher than Tulisa? I don't like Tulisa...
Kelly Rowland

Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is a Grammy Award-winning American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups. Rowland also achieved success as a solo artist and served as a judge on several talent... read more
Sharon Osbourne

Sharon Rachel Osbourne is a British-American television personality, music manager, and author. She is married to heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne and rose to public prominence through The Osbournes, a reality show that aired on MTV and followed her family's daily life. Sharon has also served... read more

She should be in 2nd place. People have no respect for the good judges.

Very funny judge. Sharon is back on X Factor UK.

Sharon Osbourne reminds me of Mary Poppins. Sharon Poppins Osbourne? Very fitting.
Demi Lovato

Demetria Devonne "Demi" Lovato is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. After appearing on the children's television series Barney & Friends as a child, she received her breakthrough role as Mitchie Torres in the Disney Channel television film Camp Rock and its sequel Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam... read more
Dannii Minogue

Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter and television personality. She is also known for her work as a talent competition judge, actress, radio presenter, and fashion designer. Dannii began her career on Australian television before achieving success in music and entertainment... read more

The first judge to ever give proper vocal feedback and still be able to shine despite Simon championing Cheryl to be the new, young, pretty face on X Factor.

The most honest, smart, and graceful judge! She made Cheryl look like a dumb schoolgirl!

Best judge - she has talent, she's funny, sweet, and makes it about her acts and not herself.

The Newcomers

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Alesha Dixon
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Robbie Williams

Robert Peter Williams (born February 13, 1974) is an English singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995 and rejoined the group from 2009 to 2012... read more

The Contenders

L.A. Reid
Rita Ora

Rita Sahatçiu Ora is a British singer and actress recognized for her fashion-forward image and pop music success. Her debut studio album, Ora (2012), debuted at number one in the United Kingdom. She has also made headlines for her personal life, including a high-profile relationship with Rob Kardashian... read more

She is one of the best Albanian singers.
She is really nice and pretty.
Guy Sebastian

Guy Theodore Sebastian is a Malaysian-Australian singer and songwriter. He was the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003 and served as a judge on The X Factor Australia from 2010 to 2012, and again in 2015 and 2016. He has represented Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest and released multiple... read more
Britney Spears

Britney Jean Spears (born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi) is an American former singer and actress. She was raised in Kentwood, Louisiana. As a child, she performed acting roles in stage productions and television shows, such as The Mickey Mouse Club, before signing with Jive Records in... read more

I think she has that something special. She's very cute, and it was very funny to see her as a judge. I know that she's not the best singer, but who says that the judge must sing well?
Mel B

Melanie Janine Brown (born May 29, 1975), known professionally as Mel B, is an English singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. She gained international fame in the 1990s as a member of the Spice Girls, where she was nicknamed Scary Spice. The group has sold over 85 million records worldwide... read more

She can be scary at times, but I still think she's one of the best judges.
Louis Tomlinson

Louis Tomlinson is an English singer-songwriter, known as a member of the boy band One Direction. He was born on December 24, 1991, in Doncaster. Since the band's hiatus, Tomlinson has pursued a solo music career and released albums including Walls (2020) and Faith in the Future (2022).
Paula Abdul

Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality. She gained fame in the late 1980s with a string of hit songs and albums, including her debut album Forever Your Girl. Abdul also served as a judge on the television shows American Idol and... read more
Ronan Keating

Ronan Patrick John Keating (born 3 March 1977) is an Irish singer, songwriter and media personality. He debuted in 1993 alongside Keith Duffy, Michael Graham, Shane Lynch, and Stephen Gately, as the co-lead singer (with Gately) of Irish pop group Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999 and he's recorded... read more

I think he is the best of the Australian panel because, as we all know, a good musician has to be sensitive, and he really feels it. He lives the music, the tune, the tone, the melody, and, yeah, you can simply see it.
Nick Grimshaw
Paulina Rubio