Gary Barlow has admitted to feeling “really nervous” ahead of his first X Factor show last Saturday.

The Take That star replaced Simon Cowell on the X Factor panel, and was first seen in actin when the new series kicked off last weekend.

Speaking to Chris Moyles on Radio 1, Gary revealed: “I always loved the show, always watched it, but never dreamed I would be sitting in that chair.

“I was really, really nervous ahead of episode one, and about a week before, thankfully, I got an invitation from David Walliams to his birthday party. I thought ‘Brilliant, we can get out of the house’ because I really didn’t want to be there watching it feeling nervous, dreading every word I was going to say. It was a good distraction.”

Responding to questions regarding his judging style – branded as ‘harsh’ by some – he joked: “That to me was the reason I was brought in, to spot really good singers. Louis will put anybody through.”

He also spoke of how he received advice from Cheryl Cole when deciding whether to take the job.

You can see how Gary and his fellow judges get on in the second episode tonight at 8pm on ITV1.

Were you impressed with his judging in week 1?

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