Cheryl Cole has issued a warning to hopefuls on this year's The X Factor that they'll need to step it up if they hope to impress.

The 30-year-old former Girls Aloud star - who is returning to the ITV talent show alongside Simon Cowell this year - told potential auditionees what she and her fellow judges will be hoping to see.

She said: "If you do something original or a good remix that makes people sit up and listen, that's always a good start.

"Do some research. Find unique ways of singing songs we're aware of."

And the show will be auditioning in more locations than ever before this year - a whopping 43 different towns and cities in total.

The judges will be seeing candidates in nine major cities, with a mobile audition unit stopping at a further 34 locations around the UK.

Show supremo Simon Cowell said: "The last time I was on the show we discovered One Direction, Cher Lloyd and Rebecca Ferguson.

"This year we're visiting more towns and cities than ever across the UK to find the next pop star ready to take on the world. So if you're thinking about auditioning, just do it!"

The other two seats on the judging panel have not yet been officially filled, although Mel B was recently reported to be in the frame for one of the jobs.