ITV has announced some pretty major names from the pop world as guests for the judges’ houses stage of ‘The X Factor’ over the next few weeks, the biggest of which is former alumnus of the show Louis Tomlinson who’ll be assisting Simon Cowell.

23 year old Tomlinson, who finished in third place on ‘The X Factor’ with One Direction back in 2010, will be helping Cowell choose which singers from the “overs” category will be going through to the live shows later in the series. Tomlinson will be replacing Cowell’s regular aide Sinitta in the chair, and ends speculation linking former judge Louis Walsh with the role.

The newcomers to the judging panel, Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora, will be joined by ‘Uptown Funk!’ hitmaker Mark Ronson and American pop star Meghan Trainor respectively.

Louis TomlinsonLouis Tomlinson will be helping Simon Cowell in the judges' houses round

Finally, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has been matched with starlet Jess Glynne, who has recently matched her record for most UK Number 1 singles by a British female solo artist.

More: Is Louis Walsh set for a sensational return to ‘The X Factor’?

The format of this stage of the competition has been altered slightly from previous years. Producers had planned for the auditions, which in the past have been pre-recorded at luxury locations overseas, to be filmed live this year. However, for technical reasons they’ve abandoned this idea.

Instead, ITV bosses have opted for the actual auditions to be pre-recorded as they normally are, but for the judges to announce their decisions as to who’s going through to the finals at a big live show back in London in front of the contestants’ friends and family.

Meghan TrainorMeghan Trainor will be alongside Rita Ora

It’s not known precisely where the judges house will be located this year, but it’s likely to be in Britain because of the practicalities of doing the results in London. However, Grimshaw is rumoured to be taking his contestants to his home town of Oldham.

‘The X Factor’ continues with the first instalment of the ‘Six Chair Challenge’ on Sunday, October 4th at 7pm on ITV.

More: ‘The X Factor’ judges’ categories are revealed, leaving Simon Cowell surprised