Who knew the B in Mel B stood for B****?

• The ninth series of X Factor brings out a new grumpy judge in Mel B.
• Opening show had the lowest audience ratings in six years.

She has made a name as "Scary Spice", one fifth of the infamous girl group Spice Girls. However Scary Spice definitely lived up to her moniker as guest judge on this year’s X-Factor. Though she was cynical, critical and downright insulting on the first episode back, she was the best thing on X-Factor since the original Mr Nasty, Simon Cowell!

The show started off with guest judge Nicole Scherzinger, the airy-fairy empty seat filler that will eventually become the permanent fourth judge alongside Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and Tulisa. However when Mel B took on the role as the has-been guest judge things started to heat up. Her frank words of “advice” to contestants and comments on out of sync dance routines came as a shock. But let’s be honest it was what the whole nation was thinking but too afraid to admit. One of shocking moments was when she left an 82 year old (the oldest contestant ever on X Factor) on the verge of tears after an endearing rendition of “Make Me Feel My Love”.

Her grumpiness shocked contestants and judges alike but she appeared quite unfazed. Gary asked her “how do you sleep at night?" with Dermot adding to a contestant "where is her heart?". Louis was stunned when Mel B started rearranging the Spice Girls dolls backstage, leaving Geri and Victoria on the wayside. However harsh, I seem to be slightly drawn to this no nonsense diva. Now I hope Simon Cowell will reconsider Mel as a permanent judge instead of sappy Nicole.

Her bitchiness initially brought in more exposure to the show after the flagging ratings and lack of talent from last year. Within minutes, "Mel B" and #GrumpySpice were trending on Twitter. Nevertheless, it hasn’t done the trick in terms of ratings, dropping in three million viewers from last year’s launch. This episode of X Factor had the lowest audience ratings in six years.  So could this be the beginning of the end of Simon Cowell’s X Factor reign? 

First published on 22 August 2012 on York Vision