Added spice for X Factor as Mel B joins judging panel

FORMER Spice Girl Mel B has promised to bring some “honesty” to one of the nation’s leading television talent shows after being unveiled as the new X Factor judge for the next UK series.

The 39-year-old singer, who was born in Leeds and grew up in the suburb of Burley, is said to have signed a £1m deal to take the last spot on the judging panel alongside Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole on the ITV singing contest.

She said: “I’ve always thought honesty is the best policy when being a judge and that’s what I’m going to bring more of this year – whether it’s spotting an incredible singer, giving someone a reality check or debating with Simon over who’s got it wrong. Now I can’t wait to get started and find some amazing talent.”

The mother-of-three appeared as a guest judge on the ITV show in 2012 and has been on the judging panel on both the American and Australian versions of the programme. She is currently in Sydney working as a judge on talent show The Voice Kids.

She honed her performance skills at Leeds’ former Intake High School – the city’s so-called “fame school”, which later became Leeds West Academy.