Leona wants mentor role

Leona Lewis wants to be a mentor on 'The X Factor'.

The 'Bleeding Love' hitmaker – who rose to fame after winning the 2006 series of the ITV1 talent show – is keen to bag a "bigger role" on this year's series, but would also like to help the acts coming through the programme because she has done it herself.

She explained: "I always go on the show and sing, but I want to ask Simon Cowell for a bigger role.

"I couldn't be a judge this year as I've been busy working on my new album. I already know I'm going to be performing on the show this year but I'd like to do something different, maybe a mentor instead.

"I've been through the whole process, so I think I'd be able to give the new acts some good advice."

The 26-year-old singer – who split from long-term boyfriend Lou Al-Chamaa last year - is hard at work on her third album, and reveals it will have a "darker" tone than the rest of her music.

She added to Reveal magazine: "I wanted to put my heart into my lyrics, so most of my new album has a darker tone to it. It's not just about my ex, or any one person, it's a mix of emotions.

"But it's not all sad. I'm in a really happy place right now, so there are some upbeat tracks too."