Simon Cowell has confirmed that the fourth and final judge for this year’s X Factor will be revealed later this week.

Cowell himself is returning to the panel along with Cheryl Cole and seasoned veteran Louis Walsh but the identity of the fourth judge has been a mystery despite much speculation.

Cowell has made it clear that the final judge will be female.

He said: "We've settled on someone. We are going to make an announcement this week.

"We've decided... [but] we haven't got the contract signed yet. It's going to be a girl."

It has been suggested that former Spice Girl Mel B could be the forerunner in the bid for the final judging spot following her appearance as a guest judge on the show a few years ago.

She is currently one of the judges on America’s Got Talent.