Manchester Auditions kicks off The X Factor 2014 with a new judging panel line-up that includes Mel B

With Britain’s Got Talent out of the way, attention is now turned to the new series of The X Factor for fans of talent shows, and yesterday the X Factor judges hit the road in Manchester were they came face to face with the talented and the talentless.

Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Mel B and Louis Walsh walked the red carpet at the Manchester Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground yesterday before kicking off the opening round of auditions.

Dermot O’Leary is back to host the show as always and new Xtra Factor presenter Sarah-Jane Crawford made her first appearance on the red carpet.

The new panel was together for the first time since the panel was confirmed just last week.

Once again, this year the first round of auditions will take place in front of only the judges in small rooms, with the hopefuls performers singing acapella to show off only their voices.

Those who impress and receive at least 3 yeses from the judges, are invited back for a second audition at the arena stage of the competition later on in the summer, where they’ll perform in front of 3,000 strong live audience.

The X factor 2014