Dermot O’Leary and Louis Walsh confirm they will both return to The X Factor… but what about the women?
Host and judge will resume their roles for the 2017 series but the future of Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne is still up in the air
DERMOT O'Leary has confirmed he will return to host the next series of The X Factor.
The presenter took a break from fronting the ITV talent show last year, and was replaced by Olly Murs and Caroline Flack.
But after returning for the 2016 series, the 43-year-old is clearly keen to remain a fundamental part of the show.
When asked on Good Morning Britain if he would be returning, Dermot replied: "I'm here for a while".
Also confirming their return was Louis Walsh, who said he had signed up for "two more years".
The Irishman cheekily added: "Tell Piers [Morgan] not to go for that gig".
While the men have confirmed their roles alongside show boss Simon Cowell, the future of female judges Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne remains up in the air.
However it is believed Simon, 57, is keen to have all three judges return for the next series as show bosses believe they have found the perfect chemistry in the judging line-up.
An X Factor source told The Sun's Dan Wootton: “Simon wants all the judges back next year. Contracts haven’t been signed but negotiations are already well under way.
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“Nicole is keen because she loves the show and Sharon also wants to come back as long as she can keep up her crazy transatlantic travel schedule.”
Former Pussycat Doll Nicole hinted at her desire to return during the show's press conference, telling journalists: "I can't confirm that I'm going to [be back] but I think if I did return it would have to be with this panel because I'm really close with this panel.
"I've really enjoyed myself and we're really close.
"When Simon asked me back and tried to convince me, I said, 'I just want to have fun again'.
"And it's been fun and we all have respect for each other and relationships, and we have a natural chemistry."
But Sharon is unsure if she will be able to make it work for another series, having spent the current run jetting back and forth to America each week after the live shows.
She said: "I would love to come back again.
"I would love to but I'm in a difficult position that I'm signed to CBS in America and I've been doing [The Talk] for seven years and I work with amazing women... it's up to Simon if I come back."