[Spike]

Simon Cowell has confirmed that he is hoping for a "unique" X Factor winner this year.

The music mogul revealed that he has been keeping the international success of Amy Winehouse in mind when judging hopefuls on the new series.

"I want someone who is going to represent this country all over the world over the next ten, twenty years - that's what I'm looking for," Cowell explained. "I want somebody who is different and unique. I want to find somebody as good as Amy Winehouse - I'd love to do that."

Cowell admitted that the contestants will have to work hard if they want to match the standard set by Leona Lewis over the past year.

"I'll never forget the day that Leona Lewis walked into the audition room and I want to have that same feeling again," he said. "It's not always the obvious ones. You win this show, you make the right record and you can become an international star - it is as simple as that.

"Leona Lewis is the biggest reality show winner in history. Fact. It's because of The X Factor and that's what this show can do for you."

The X Factor's fifth series begins on Saturday at 7.30pm on ITV1.

[xDramatick]

Bah. Leona.
Hardly unique :\

I hope we have a unique winner though.
Not necessarily someone like Amy Winehouse.
Just someone fresh, new, something we haven't really seen before.

[MrGaryy]

Well a ****ing screeching cat would probably be more successful than Leon so they shouldn't have much trouble beating last year!

[Spike]

I want somebody unique and different so anyone we have seen before
I think good example are Amy, Mika, and even Scissor Sisters.
We haven't had a unique winner yet, the closest we have got to unique on the X Factor is Rhydian.

[Sam]

Originally posted by Spike
I want somebody unique and different so anyone we have seen before
I think good example are Amy, Mika, and even Scissor Sisters.
We haven't had a unique winner yet, the closest we have got to unique on the X Factor is Rhydian.

I don't think he was unique, I just think he was an opera singer in the usual pop competition, which made him stand out. I don't see what made his singing unique. He was much better than Leon though.

[xDramatick]

Originally posted by Spike
I want somebody unique and different so anyone we have seen before
I think good example are Amy, Mika, and even Scissor Sisters.
We haven't had a unique winner yet, the closest we have got to unique on the X Factor is Rhydian.

Rhydian? Unique? There are many other singers out there that can do what he does, some even better.

I think in terms of the most unique, we've had Eton Road, Alisha, Same Difference, Tabby and Phillip [obviously more, that's just off the top of my head]. Not necessarily the best singers or performers, but all were unique.

[Sam]

Originally posted by Darenn

Rhydian? Unique? There are many other singers out there that can do what he does, some even better.

I think in terms of the most unique, we've had Eton Road, Alisha, Same Difference, Tabby and Phillip [obviously more, that's just off the top of my head]. Not necessarily the best singers or performers, but all were unique.

Phillip? That's a joke surely?

[xDramatick]

Originally posted by Sam

Phillip? That's a joke surely?

I loved him.
&he was unique.
We haven't had anyone else that's sung in the older rock 'n' roll/elvis style fashion besides him?
I did say they weren't necessarily the best.