Talent show stars who have changed programmes: From Nicole Scherzinger to Simon Cowell

These famous faces have appeared on several shows
Swap: Alesha Dixon hit headlines when she moved from Strictly Come Dancing to Britain's Got Talent
Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Natasha Sporn11 February 2018

Most of us have changed jobs or offices at some point in our lives and our favourite television stars are no different, with judges sometimes swapping one talent show for a sister show or even a rival.

While rumours continue to circulate that axed Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole will fly off to Los Angeles to feature on Dancing with the Stars, here are six of the hottest talent show stars that have traded in their original programmes for a new one.

Alesha Dixon – Strictly Come Dancing to Britain’s Got Talent

After winning Strictly Come Dancing with Matthew Cutler in 2007, Dixon returned to the show in 2009 when she replaced Arlene Phillips as a judge, alongside returning Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and then-Head Judge Len Goodman.

In 2012, Dame Darcey Bussell – who had guest judged in 2007 from the quarter final onwards – took The Alesha Show singer’s spot behind the judging desk in 2012 after Dixon left the BBC show for ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, where she still works today.

The X Factor: Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger, who both judged the most recent series, have swapped shows before
Syco/Thames/Dymond

Simon Cowell – American Idol to The X Factor USA

In 2010, music mogul Cowell announced that he intended to leave Pop Idol spin-off American Idol to set up The X Factor USA after the success of The X Factor in the UK.

Cowell had judged on American Idol for the first eight series before moving over to judge on his creation The X Factor USA where he stayed for its span of three series, after which he moved back to the UK version of the popular singing contest.

Nicole Scherzinger – The X Factor USA to The X Factor UK

The Pussycat Dolls siren was a judge on the inaugural The X Factor USA series alongside creator Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and L.A Reid.

In 2012, Scherzinger landed UK-side as she swapped The X Factor USA for the successful ITV version for a couple series, coming back to the UK show once again in 2016 to sit alongside Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.

Rita Ora – The Voice UK to The X Factor UK

Ora joined Will.I.Am, Ricky Wilson and Sir Tom Jones for the fourth series of The Voice UK in 2015, hosted by Emma Willis and Marvin Humes, back in the days of the singing show’s life on the BBC.

Later that year, the Anywhere singer hot-footed it across the terrestrial channels (which is what The Voice later did) to judge on The X Factor UK alongside fellow new judge Nick Grimshaw and returning Cowell and Cheryl.

Wanted: Rita Ora has judged on both The Voice UK and The X Factor
PA Wire/PA Images

Adam Garcia – Got To Dance for Dancing with the Stars Australia

Garcia judged and mentored on the Sky1 dance programme for three years after its inception in 2010, alongside Ashley Banjo from Diversity and Kimberly Wyatt.

The Australian dancer left the show for the 2013 series and wound up as a judge on now-defunct Dancing with the Stars Australia, a spin-off of Strictly Come Dancing and, by name, Dancing with the Stars US. The Britannia High star judged both shows in 2014, with Got To Dance airing its final series in August of that year and the Australian show broadcasting from September to November.

(Bonus fact: Garcia was replaced for what turned out to be the final series of Dancing with the Stars Australia by none other than Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars US favourite Bruno Tonioli. The Italian’s tenure in Melbourne lasted three weeks before he left and the show saw out the series with three judges).

Jennifer Hudson – The Voice UK for The Voice US (for The Voice UK, again)

Pop sensation Hudson – who shot to fame on American Idol in 2004 – joined The Voice UK after it hopped channels from BBC to ITV in a lucrative deal.

JHud, as she is affectionately known, sat alongside Will.I.Am, Sir Tom Jones and Gavin Rossdale for the 2017 series, which she won, before being announced as a judge on the 13th series of The Voice US back over the pond on NBC.

The One Night Only singer did not return for the new series on the US show and instead focuses on the UK version.

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