The judges Gordon, Angela Groothuizen, Eric van Tijn and Stacey Rookhuizen will have their hands full again this year in sorting out the real talent from the 15,000 applicants. For many the show will lead back to the rehearsal room rather than pave the way to the pinnacle of pop. The programme is presented by Wendy van Dijk and Martijn Krabbé, who will also try to calm the contestants’ nerves between performances.
"I’m looking forward to the new season of X Factor," enthused Erland Galjaard, RTL 4 Programme Director, in the lead-up to the season. "With the talent and the quality we saw on Friday, we will continue the success seen by the concept last year and give a positive boost to family entertainment."
Over the next three weeks, the format is completely devoted to the auditions in Eindhoven, Amsterdam and Utrecht. The X-Campus, where the wheat is separated from the chaff, begins on 26 February. At the end of the X-Campus, the candidates are divided into four categories: boys aged 15 to 25, girls aged 15 to 25, over 25s, and groups. From 26 March, the four jury members will then each coach one category and prepare for the big stage of the live shows, which start on 9 April and culminate in the final on 29 May.