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Robbie and Ayda Williams QUIT The X Factor

They joined the show in 2018

Author: Alex RossPublished 12th Apr 2019
Last updated 12th Apr 2019

It seems there is something in the air for talent show judges to quit their programmes, after after Darcey Bussell’s shock Strictly exit, and now married couple Robbie and Ayda Williams have announced they won't be returning to The X Factor.

The pair, who joined the show in 2018 alongside One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson and Simon Cowell, took to social media to announce the news.

Revealing they are both too busy to continue with the show, the pair released a joint statement which read, 'A quick update from Team Williams… it’s been a very busy year so far. Vegas has been incredible and we cannot wait for June and July to do it all again. I’ve got the massive @BSTHydePark show on July 14 and I’ve written the lyrics and music for the #RSCBoyInDress show with @guyachambers - opening on November 8. As well as all this we’ve got some very big announcements coming soon - but we can’t reveal all yet. Sadly though it’s impossible to do everything … and 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…x'. sic

After they were positively received by viewers during the show last year, many fans took to the comments section to reveal their sadness at the news.

One fan wrote, 'Sad that you’ll no longer be on X Factor, thought you both revived and updated it hugely xxx', with another adding, 'Onwards and upwards you two, keep up the good work.'. sic

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Robbie and Ayda Williams QUIT The X Factor
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Both Robbie and Ayda failed to get any of their finalists into the 2018 final. Whilst head judge Simon Cowell guided Scarlett Lee into the final, Louis Tomlinson was the most successful judge, getting both Anthony Russell and eventual winner Dalton Harris into the prestigious final.

It's not yet been revealed who will take the place of Robbie and Ayda on the panel, or whether Louis Tomlinson and Simon Cowell will return for the 2019 series.

The X Factor is due to return later in the year.

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