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The X Factor is back this weekend - with the next batch of pop star wannabes strutting their stuff and hoping for their chance of fame.
This year's contest has seen the largest ever number of applicants willing to sing live for the ITV talent show judges in a bid to be the next big thing in the music charts.
And this year's contest will be even more nerve-wracking, with auditions taking place in arenas, so hopefuls not only have to impress the panel but a live audience as well.
Each will be hoping to emulate the success of last year's winner Alexandra Burke, who scored a Christmas No 1 with her hit Hallelujah and who is currently putting the finishing touches to her debut album.
Cheryl Cole, Alex's mentor and 2008's victorious judge, will return alongside Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue, with each once again being given the task of looking after either the best of the 16-24 Boys, 16-24 Girls, 25 And Overs or Groups.
Cheryl, new to the show last series, reckons she feels a bit more at ease on the panel this year: "I feel this year I'm more experienced as a judge and in saying no. I struggled at first last year in saying no to people, I think I may have been giving false hope.
"This year, I've learned more, I'm more able to say no to people that don't have what we're looking for and I don't feel as bad."
Simon meanwhile is hoping the boys stage a comeback this year.
He said: "I would love to find a great male singer this year, the girls have kind of dominated it and it's time for the boys to fight back this year."
Talking about the new audition format, Simon said: "The show gets bigger and bigger every year, I believe in changing and constantly raising the bar - and with the change in the audition process it feels bigger right from the outset. Thousands of people have watched parts of auditions and have been part of it."
Dermot O'Leary will be back as a shoulder to cry on for the auditionees, and as host of the live finals, while Holly Willoughby returns with offshoot show The Xtra Factor.
So what does life have in store for those who make a success of the show?
An excited Alexandra Burke revealed on her blog recently how she was well on the way to releasing her first album.
She wrote: "Things have been very hectic, working very very hard!! But having so much fun at the same time. I cannot wait to share my music with you all... That time is not far away! It's unreal how excited I am!
"We have nearly chosen what the first single is going to be and I'm extremely happy with it...
"I fly to LA very soon to shoot the video and do loads more finishing touches on everything."
Runners-up JLS meanwhile have been celebrating their own No 1 single with Beat Again and debut album.
They explained their approach to their new-found fame: "We were cautious coming out of the programme and we didn't want to rush the album just in case it wasn't the right time. Now we feel we're ready for what we're about to do.
"We've got a great team behind us and the label know exactly what they're doing. As a team together, we're very clued up now as to what we're looking to aim for."
They've also had to get used to being the new pop pin-ups.
Aston admits: "You can't say you're ever going to get used to girls screaming at you everywhere you go. These days, we get out of a car and for no reason at all girls just start screaming. On stage when the vibe is right it can be 10 times as loud. I don't think we're ever going to be ready for that."