It has been confirmed that BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Sarah-Jane Crawford will replace Caroline Flack and Matt Richardson as the new host of the Xtra Factor.
She tweeted: “Morning! Really thrilled to say that I’ll be the new host of #XtraFactor this year!!!! Thanks to the X team for seeing something in me!”
“Massive respect goes out to @carolineflack1 who’s an amazing broadcaster and delivered 3 years of a brilliant series,” she added.
Sarah-Jane has also said that she watched every series of The X Factor “religiously”, and added: “To be the new host of The Xtra Factor in its most exciting year ever is what dreams are made of.
“I’ll be asking the judges the questions that people at home are screaming at their TVs – and you’d better believe I’m going in with a bang! I just can’t wait to get on the road now and meet the auditionees!”
Sarah-Jane was described by The Xtra Factor’s executive producer Mark Sidaway as a “great addition to the team”. He praised her “fantastic knowledge of the music scene”, her “great sense of humour”, and her interview experience.
The X Factor host Dermot O’Leary also congratulated Sarah-Jane and tweeted: “Sad to see my little sis @carolineflack1 go. But welcome to the family @DJSarahJane … The strange dysfunctional family.”
Meanwhile, Xtra Factor co-host Richardson (who joined the show last year) announced that he too will not returning to the spin off series and tweeted: “Major Congrats to @DJSarahJane on xtra, I shall remember it well whilst writing my new tour. Advice: Judges Houses is not a holiday (it is)!”
Also joining the ‘strange dysfunctional family’ is Mel B who will be this year’s fourth X Factor judge along with Simon, Cheryl and Louis.