It’s been a crazy few days for The X Factor out of New Zealand. After judges Natalia Kills and Willy Moon were fired following their criticism of contestant Joe Irvine, their replacements have been announced.
It’s been confirmed that Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Shelton Woolright will fill the vacated seats and join singer-songwriter/former member of All Saints member Melanie Blatt and former Australian Idol winner Stan Walker on the show’s judges panel.
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Our two new judges have been announced! Can’t wait to have Shelton and Natalie on the #XFactorNZ judging panel http://t.co/yCwWME1Ltl
— The X Factor NZ (@xfactornz) March 19, 2015
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Bassingthwaighte is an Australian singer and actress who previously sat at the judges table on The X Factor in Australia. She has been tapped to mentor the boys.
“I am thrilled to be joining The X Factor New Zealand family and I can’t wait to begin mentoring my boys,” she said in a statement. “We are going to have the so much fun and I’m so excited to see their talents evolve. I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I hope will see them through to the very end of the competition.”
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As for Woolright, he’s currently best known as the drummer in the band I Am Giant, which likely makes him the perfect mentor for the groups.
“I am absolutely stoked to be involved in X Factor NZ and I’m especially looking forward to working with the Groups,” he said in a statement. “I’ve been working with labels, filmmakers and publishers as well as producing I Am Giant and other bands for years and I can’t wait to share my expertise with fresh eager minds. This is going to be awesome, and we are going to win!”
Stoked just joined the @xfactornz family can’t wait to meet @1stanwalker @melblatt @nataliebassing
— Shelton Woolright (@DearShelton) March 19, 2015