X Factor’s Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will have to re-apply for their roles as judges on ITV’s eight series of the X Factor it has been revealed.

Simon Cowell has made it clear that he wants the pair to apply for their roles on the show to ensure that they are mentally prepared to take on another series.

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An insider told the Mirror: “Simon is determined to avoid complacency this series and wants all the judges to be at the top of their game. They are two of the most sought-after jobs in the industry so it’s only fair they apply for their places just like anybody else.

“During the application process, the duo will answer questions about mistakes they made in previous shows and in what ways they would approach mentoring in 2011 – things to help freshen up this series, making it bigger and better than ever. Dannii especially is pretty embarrassed about the whole charade.”

So could this be the end for the two talent judges on the show?

Well, according to the source, Simon is keen to keep Dannii and Louis as celebrity judges as “he loves the chemistry the pair has developed” and said that the “re-audition and screen test for their jobs is something of a formality”.

Although, the judges for the eight series of X Factor haven’t yet been announced, the auditions for the show have now begun with thousands of wannabee-stars lining up at the O2 in Greenwich, London earlier today.