Katy Perry to be X Factor judge (From York Press)

Katy Perry to be X Factor judge

6:33pm Friday 11th June 2010 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2011

Katy Perry and Pixie Lott are to join the next series of The X Factor as guest judges.

The duo, with Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia and Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, will stand in for mother-to-be Dannii Minogue, who is due to give birth in July, during the audition shows around the country.

Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole will reprise their roles on the panel for the seventh series of the award-winning show, and Dannii will join them for the judges' house stage of the competition later in the year.

Geri, who was previously a judge on Popstars: The Rivals, kicked off the first auditions in Glasgow, while Natalie, a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor, will appear at the Birmingham auditions on Sunday June 13 and Monday June 14.

Further big names are to be revealed for the Dublin, London, Cardiff and Manchester auditions.

Dermot O'Leary will again host the series on ITV1 when it returns later this year, with Konnie Huq as the new presenter of The Xtra Factor for ITV2.