X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary has claimed that the strongest category this year are the girls, aged 16-24.

The only females to have won The X Factor before now are Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke, in 2006 and 2008 respectively. However, the show’s host thinks 2011 could be their year again.

O’Leary said: “The girls are really strong.

“They’ve really over-achieved this year. I’m backing the girls’ category this year.”

Speaking at the X Factor press conference on Wednesday, new judge Gary Barlow joked: “If the category is really rubbish, we’ll just give it to Louis.”

Walsh responded: “That’s happened for the last seven years. Not this time. This is the new X Factor. Bigger and better. The girls are incredibly strong, but there is talent in every category.”

Which category would you like to see triumph in the new series?

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