X Factor judging row: Who are the main players?

The new judging line-up for the UK version of X Factor has been unveiled and Cheryl Cole is absent from the list, despite speculation she would return after her swift and controversial departure from the US show. So who are the key players in the unfolding X Factor drama?

Simon Cowell

Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell share a knowing look

Simon Cowell announced he was quitting his role as judge on the UK show to concentrate on the launch of the series Stateside but took a long time to unveil the much-debated US line-up.

Cole was announced as a US judge on 5 May but three weeks later, and after filming had begun, reports leaked that she had been dropped over concerns about her accent.

The US judging panel consists of Cowell, his former American Idol co-star Paula Abdul, Antonio LA Reid and Cole's replacement Nicole Scherzinger.

Cowell has always been supportive of Cole and was widely seen as a driving force in her move to the US, recently saying of the singer: "You meet someone special a few times in your life and this girl is special."

He hasn't commented on Cole's departure from the US show.

Will.i.am

Will.i.am has appeared on The X Factor with the Black Eyed Peas

Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am, also known as William Adams, took over Cole's management a month ago, after she parted with her long-time manager Hilary Shaw.

Newspaper reports have speculated that the pair ignored calls from TV bosses about her return to the UK show.

Will.i.am appeared on X Factor last year to help Cole with contestants during the 'judge's houses' stage of the competition.

Cole supported the Black Eyed Peas during their UK tour last year. She also featured on Will.i.am's single Heartbreaker, while he returned the favour on her second single, 3 Words.

He hasn't commented on Cole's departure from the US show.

The UK judges

Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland and Tulisa Contostavlos

After much speculation about who would replace Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue as judges on the UK show, the four-person line-up was finally announced on 30 May.

Original judge Louis Walsh will be joined by Take That's Gary Barlow, former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland and N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos in the upcoming series.

Cowell said of his new team: "These four are totally up for it, each of them bring a different attitude."

The first auditions will take place in Birmingham on 1 June.

Dannii Minogue revealed that she would be stepping down on 14 May because of clashes with her judging commitments on Australia's Got Talent.

Web of PR people

Max Clifford represents X Factor and BGT judge Simon Cowell

Trying to find out who's pulling the strings when it comes to X Factor is a complicated affair.

The show is produced by Talkback Thames, who first developed the show with ITV and Cowell back in 2004.

When the UK judging line-up was announced quotes were released from ITV's Director of Television Peter Fincham, Cowell (who owns production company Syco) and Director of Entertainment from Talkback Thames Richard Holloway.

During every X Factor series all the judges have their own PR agents.

Publicist Max Clifford represents Simon Cowell and recently revealed that Cowell wanted Dannii Minogue to stay on as an X Factor judge despite reports to the contrary.

No one has officially commented on Cheryl's position on X Factor.

Media stunt?

Since Cole's very public departure from the US show, some have speculated that the whole scenario is a PR stunt, designed to increase interest in the show.

The announcement about Cole's exit was leaked the same day as rival Simon Fuller's show, American Idol, revealed its winner.

In a similar turn of events Louis Walsh was briefly replaced back in 2007 by choreographer Brian Friedman but after a media furore he returned to the panel.