Hugh, Axle, Darren up for X Factor host

Hugh Sheridan from Packed to the Rafters, Axle Whitehead from Home and Away and MTV Australia’s Darren McMullen are in the running to host The X Factor, according to news.com.au.

Seven’s head of programming and production, Tim Worner, said the network was close to signing a presenter.

“We are on to that right now,” he said.

On Friday night Seven announced Natalie Imbruglia, Ronan Keating, Guy Sebastian and Kyle Sandilands would judge the new version of the show, following continued speculation.

“We felt that there’s no big light event shows around and that this is the best of them,” Worner said.

“We’ve seen what Australia’s Got Talent has done in heavy traffic and feel it’s the right opportunity for the show.”

In its Press Release, Seven also noted “Irish singer Keating began his career with the boyband Westlife.”

But Keating actually started in Boyzone, although he was later a co-manager of Westlife with longtime manager Louis Walsh. Walsh became a judge on the UK’s X Factor.

Keating has also been a guest judge on the UK’s X Factor.

Seven’s show will air later this year with a live weekly episode.

Source: news.com.au