Take That’s Gary Barlow is having to multi-task for his new role on The X Factor – by judging and performing on the same day.

The singer, who attended the first audition of this summer’s competition on Wednesday, will watch hopefuls by day and fill stadiums by night on several days.

“Double shifts for me,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

He said he would be attending all 12 auditions, despite clashes with live dates as his group play to 1.7 million people on their sell-out stadium tour.

“That was one of the things, I didn’t want to miss any of the audition days.

“I want to see all the talent come through the door,” he said.

Mr Barlow – who has played four shows at Sunderland’s Stadium Of Light, beginning last Friday – was at Birmingham’s LG Arena along with judges Louis Walsh, Tulisa Contostavlos and Kelly Rowland to see the hopefuls go through their paces.

Explaining his decision to get involved, he said: “I’ve spent the last five years making albums, doing tours, it’s been all about the band and me and I fancied just taking a back-seat for a while and helping other people develop their careers.”

Thousands of people turned up outside the Arena as the hopefuls waited for their turn to impress the panel who took their seats behind the famous desk.