Perry hits Dublin for X Factor

KATY PERRY cast an eye over Ireland’s would-be superstars yesterday when she guested as a judge on X Factor auditions in Dublin.

The American singer joined regular judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Tweedy and Louis Walsh as a series of hopefuls auditioned in the hope of landing the top spot this winter.

Details of the audition for the top-rated show were kept under wraps as contestants performed in a closed set before the judges and an audience at the Conference Centre Dublin on the city quays. More than 10,000 people had turned out at Croke Park last month for the open audition, possibly hoping to follow in the footsteps of last year’s success story Jedward.

Yesterday’s events unfolded in two separate auditions – one which began a little behind schedule at 2.30pm, and another later that evening.

Beforehand, fans waiting outside the Conference Centre Dublin caught a glimpse of the judges as they emerged from their cars, with one member of staff at the venue saying there was “great excitement” ahead of the auditions. The auditorium normally seats 2,000 people but capacity was reduced to 1,650 for both auditions as extra space needed to be created for the judges and camera crews.

The judges are understood to be staying at the Westbury Hotel off Grafton Street.

Westlife manager Louis Walsh declared that he wanted an Irish winner in the competition this year.

Katy Perry, who is engaged to comedian Russell Brand, received a massive welcome from the assembled crowd.

It is the first time auditions for the show have been in Dublin since 2006. The singer said she was “very excited” to be Dublin’s guest judge, adding she hoped to “find someone in Dublin who’s going to change the world”.

Taking to the stage with Simon Cowell, Cheryl Tweedy and Louis Walsh to a raucous applause, she pledged: “Today we’re going to give Simon a taste of his own poison.”

Describing her role as guest judge, she said: “I’ll understand the nerves involved,” adding she would “give people a fair shot”, but if someone’s act was not up to standard, “someone needs to tell them”.

The Dublin auditions will be screened on ITV and TV3 later this year.