Liam Payne believes Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell are a good addition to the X Factor panel.

The two former judges are set to rekindle their fiery working relationship this year on the show after a few years out of the game.

Speaking to the Mirror, One Direction singer Payne believes that the duo work well together because Cole isn't scared to speak her mind.

He said: "Yeah, she’s not afraid of him at all, obviously some people are too scared to say what they think around him on the show and she’s, like, – ‘No you’ve brought me in to do a job and I’m going to do it'.”

One Direction meanwhile were formed on the UK X Factor in 2010 from five solo contestants.

They have regularly appeared on the show in the UK and the US since then to perform.

Watch One Direction on the X Factor below: