Gary Barlow has announced that he’ll be returning as a judge for the forthcoming 2012 series of The X-Factor.

The Take That star, who joined Kelly Rowland and Tulisa Contostavlos as one of three new judges on last year’s eighth series, took to Twitter this evening to reveal the news.

He said: “I've got some news ......

“I'm so happy to tell you all that I'm back on the X factor this year ! See you at auditions”

The 41-year-old, who was nearly sacked by Simon Cowell last year according to Tom Bower's new biography of the music mogul, is the second judge confirmed to be returning for the new series, following the news that Louis Walsh will once again sit on the panel for the ninth consecutive year.