Nicole Scherzinger skilfully brushed off comparisons to previous X Factor judges and singers Rita Ora and Cheryl during the ITV programme’s official launch event by showing off her vocal prowess.

The 38-year-old singer stood up and belted out the lyrics to And I Am Telling You when fellow judge Louis Walsh was asked why he championed her to return to the show.

He was also quizzed about what qualities Nicole has which Rita and Cheryl do not.

Daniel Leal-Olivas /
Last year’s X Factor judges Cheryl and Rita Ora (Daniel Leal-Olivas /PA Archive/PA Images)

Nicole caused plenty of laughter as she said before her impromptu performance: “I’ll show you right now.”

She added: “Really, seriously, is that the f***ing question?”

Louis said of his co-star: “She’s got whatever ‘it’ is. Not many people have ‘it’. She has it all. She works really hard, she takes it really, really seriously. There’s nobody better than Nicole.”

This display followed her silent treatment on the red carpet beforehand, which saw her keeping quiet when probed about not working with the former Girls Aloud star on this series.

Cheryl was replaced by Nicole on the US version of The X Factor after being fired amid claims US audiences struggled with her Geordie accent.

In her autobiography, the British singer described the pair’s first meeting as “awkward” and said that she was left cringing after Nicole sang her track Promise This back to her.

The former Pussycat Doll is a returning judge on this year’s X Factor after previously taking part in 2012 and 2013.

She has joined fellow returning panellists Louis and Sharon Osbourne alongside head judge Simon Cowell on the popular series.

Show judge Nicole Scherzinger attending a X Factor 2016 launch
Show judge Nicole Scherzinger attending the X Factor 2016 launch (Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images)

Another familiar face to the X Factor family is host Dermot O’Leary, who has made a comeback after having a year away from the show.

The presenter admitted he is backing Nicole to win the series with one of her acts.

He said: “When we get to the studio (for the live shows), she is – for all intents and purposes – a psycho. She gets her kit off.

“You know in An Officer And A Gentleman, there’s that sergeant major who beats everyone? That is essentially her in music judge form. She doesn’t hang back.”