Cheryl Fernandez-Versini: X Factor's six-chair challenge was a nightmare

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini admitted it was “hell” putting contestants through The X Factor’s six chair challenge.

Cheryl didn’t enjoy the six-chair challenge (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire)

The section of the show, which was only introduced last year, allows the judges to swap contestants in and out before deciding who goes to the judges’ houses stage.

Newly-married Cheryl said: “The six-chair challenge was hell for me. I didn’t enjoy it one little bit but as I progressed I got to understand what it was about and I knew that in the end I had to take through the six people I believed had variety and had talent and I could work with well”.

But the former Girls Aloud star had less trouble getting on with fellow judge – and former Spice Girl – Mel B, saying: “Mel’s great actually, we bonded instantly, she cracks me up laughing.”

The pair join show supremo Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh on the new series of the hit ITV singing show.

The X Factor 2014 judging panel (Tom Dymond/Thames TV/PA Wire)

Speaking at the launch of the show, Louis said the women had struck up a great relationship.

Louis said Cheryl and Mel B get on well (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire)

He said: “For some reason they really work, I don’t think we’ve ever had two girls on the show that genuinely works on-screen and off-screen”.