X Factor 2013: Nicole Scherzinger to Rack up Airmiles as Judges' Houses Revealed

Pop star Nicole Scherzinger will be taking her group of X Factor hopefuls to the tropical paradise of Antigua for the judges' houses round of the singing competition, it has emerged.

According to The Sun, the X Factor judges will be racking up the air miles to take the solo female contestants to the exotic locations for the new series.

While Scherzinger is heading to the sun, the boys will be jetting to the south of France with Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow and the groups are headed for New York City, and Sharon Osbourne will put the over 25s through their paces in her adopted city of Los Angeles.

"Once again the bosses have pulled out all the stops and have chosen some glamorous locations for judges' houses", a show insider told the publication.

"It's always a head-scratcher each year to think of somewhere that will have a great backdrop to film this crucial stage against.

''We've never done the sky-scrapers of Manhattan, so that will be a huge treat for the groups.

''And Antigua speaks for itself - lush palm trees and perfect white sandy beaches.''

Scherzinger is expected to enlist the help of US R'n'B star Mary J. Blige, while Walsh - who recently announced his departure from the show - is understood to have landed two assistants in the form of Sharon's daughter Kelly Osbourne and Westlife's Shane Filan.

An X Factor spokesman said: ''We have yet to confirm details of the judges' houses.

''The first people we will tell will be the contestants.''

The X factor starts on ITV1 later this month.