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Marvin Humes from JLS has said that he thinks Simon Cowell is "irreplaceable" as a judge on the UK series of the X Factor.

Last week (18 April) ITV announced Cowell will not appear as a weekly judge on the forthcoming series.

He'll split his time between the UK and the new US version of the show.

"Hopefully whoever does come in will do a great job but Simon is irreplaceable. Simon is a legend," said Humes.

"He is the show but whether he's there or not it'll still be amazing," he added.

JLS were runners-up in the 2008 series of the programme and were beaten by Alexandra Burke in the final.

"I think regardless of whatever changes it's the biggest show in the country. It'll always be the biggest show in the country whilst it's on the air," said Humes.

"Simon will always have a role on the show. I don't think people appreciate how much of a role Simon does have off of the camera."

Aston Merrygold explained that Cowell has built a brand which now appeals internationally.

"He's watched it grow from a show with hundreds of thousands of viewers to tens of millions. It's now picked up around the world.

"He's taken it across the seas. Obviously he's got a big competitor in American idol - his full focus is trying to build that platform over there."

Whilst the judging panel for the UK version of the show has yet to be confirmed for 2011, Ortise Williams said the show is increasingly less about the judges and more about the contestants.

"Although the judge line-ups can change I think the contestants profiles become so big so early on in the show these days that people are drawn to them and want to follow their progress," he said.

"You just have to look at people like Cher Lloyd and Matt Cardle to see that.

"That's a great thing Simon has done with the show in recent times."

JB Gill added: "I'm sure they'll have fantastic people who can nurture and mentor the contestants (this year). I'm sure whoever gets the job is going to do fantastically well."