Louis Tomlinson to help Simon Cowell judge X Factor hopefuls

One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has been drafted in to help music mogul Simon Cowell rate contestants on Britain's The X Factor.

The expectant father, who was a hot favorite to become a fully-fledged judge on the 2015 series, will join Cowell at a French chateau this month (Oct15) to help him decide which contestants to send through to the live show stage of the competition.

Louis, who found fame on The X Factor in 2010, previously expressed an interest in working on the show when One Direction take a break next year (16).

"I'd love to judge but as it stands we're working on this next record and we've got to sort that out, so until I've done that I'll wait and see," Louis told British radio station Key 103.

"It's always been a side of the work that's really interested me and The X Factor in particular, you can't deny the opportunity that it gave to us boys and for that reason I'll always be fascinated with the process and the chances it can give to people."

Meghan Trainor will assist Rita Ora in Los Angeles, British newcomer Jess Glynne will be with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini in Italy, and Mark Ronson will judge alongside radio DJ Nick Grimshaw in Manchester, England.