Gareth Malone has admitted that he would be tempted by a role as a judge on The X Factor.
Speaking to Digital Spy and other reporters backstage at the Royal Variety Performance - which will air tonight on ITV - Malone revealed that he is a big fan of the show.
"I love X Factor, I suppose because it's singing," he said. "I enjoy it, it's fun. It's so entertaining - it's so kind of shiny floor slick. Sam Bailey to win!"
However, Malone explained that he would be in two minds about taking on a judging role, saying: "Part of me thinks that would be really fun. From the musical point of view, actually getting in and saying, 'No, it should be like this' would be fun. But I don't know - I think I've got other fish to fry at the moment."
Malone also suggested that his choir Voices could have a shot at the Christmas number one, explaining that the public's response to their performance at the Royal Variety will give him an idea of whether they could make it.
"I'll be really interested to see what the reaction is tonight to our version of Erasure," he said. "I think that's our best track on the album... I think if there was anything, it would be that one.
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"Certainly last time with the Military Wives at number one, it was the response, people just loved it. If people like it, they'll go and buy it. It's like that these days. Anyone can record something in their bedroom, and if enough people get to like it, it's just going to happen. We'll see.
"I'm going to put my faith in these guys and go out there and hopefully people will love it."
Upon hearing that the X Factor winner's single will be released for the Christmas number one race this year, Malone joked: "Good on them, good on them. I shall not stand in their way!"
Malone also described performing at the Royal Variety as "huge", saying: "Our choir, Voices, it's the first time that they've performed on stage like this. They're a new act - they don't have that much experience. For them, it's amazing. A lot of them have just left school and they're here bumping into all these people. It's incredible.
"But you have to stay so focused - we've got to get on that stage and do a great job, because of the nature of it. It's going out to millions of people on ITV and then there's also the small matter of the Royals. So yeah, I'm a little nervous."
He added: "I don't think you can get much more pressure than this. The venue itself is quite small - it's the Palladium, it's only what, 3000? It doesn't have that kind of grandeur, but you know when you go out on that stage everyone's feeling it and everyone's watching it and you've got the Royals. I think all of Voices are feeling the pressure a bit."
The Royal Variety Performance airs tonight (December 9) at 7.30pm on ITV.
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