Official: Rita Ora Joins ‘The X Factor UK’

After weeks of speculation, it has finally been confirmed – Rita Ora has joined The X Factor UK as a judge.

Details below…

Confirmation came via Ora herself and fellow panel member Cheryl Fernandez Versini. Both posted the shot below on Instagram moments ago, with the latter adding the caption:

Excited to be back on @thexfactoruk . Welcome to the show @ritaora and @nicholasgrimshaw .. and of course Cowell himself! this year is going to be so much fun!!! We’re so excited to find the next star

The new panel serves as quite the coup for creator Simon Cowell and broadcaster ITV. For in Ora case, they’ve publicly poached her from her red chair over at rival The Voice (which she starred on earlier this year). While the addition of BBC DJ Nick Grimshaw (who replaces long-serving panel member Louis Walsh) is being billed as a credibility-adding move for the show.

It’ll be very interesting to see how this all plays out when the big X returns to the box later this year.

Pending then, Ora’s new single ‘Poison’ is released on June 28th.