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Robbie Williams and Ayda Field exit The X Factor

'We’re gutted to tell you we won’t be able to return'

Jack Shepherd
Friday 12 April 2019 08:10 BST
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Singer Robbie Williams and actress Ayda Field
Singer Robbie Williams and actress Ayda Field (AFP/Getty Images)

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Robbie Williams and Ayda Field have left The X Factor.

The husband and wife will no longer be part of the show’s judging panel, with Simon Cowell now going on the search for replacements.

Announcing the news on Instagram, the former Take That singer wrote: “We’re gutted to tell you we won’t be able to return to The X Factor this year.

“We will, however, be working on projects with Simon going forward – and as huge fans of the show, we will still be tuning into The X Factor, voting and winding Simon up.”

Williams filled the vacancy left behind by judge Louis Walsh, who quit the ITV show in 2018 after 13 years. Williams said at the time that appearing on The X Factor was an attempt to boost his future TV prospects.

“Selfishly, for me, I’ve had the most fun that I’ve ever had in the entertainment industry,” he said at the time.

“It would be incredible to open a new chapter and have this be the start of it. I’m just having a whale of a time. Who knew that I would be a TV personality? I like it though!”

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