Ayda Field has already clashed with Simon Cowell on 'X Factor'.

Ayda Field

Ayda Field

The former actress has joined the judging panel of the ITV show alongside her husband Robbie Williams, 'Back To You' singer Louis Tomlinson and head judge Simon and she has not been afraid to stand up to TV's self-proclaimed Mr Nasty.

After Simon rejected two female contestants at auditions, Ayda fought for them to be given a second chance as a duo, and she won.

A source told The Sun: "Ayda challenged Simon behind the scenes over his decision to not give them a second change.

"He told the girls, Aaliyah and Acacia, it was the end of the road. But they really impressed Ayda so she went backstage and asked them to return as a group soon after.

"Simon was insistent it was a bad idea but they sang 'Bang Bang' when they re-auditioned and the crowd, and Simon, were blown away. They got a standing ovation."

A thrilled Ayda told the pair: "Talk about girl power. I'm taking credit for putting this together - this is my idea. There's something special brewing in the air between you two."

And Simon added: "I'm very excited about you two - there's something very special happening here.

"You had more chemistry between the two of you after two hours than some of the bands we've seen who have been together for years."

Robbie, 44, recently admitted he only agreed to join the 'X Factor' panel if Ayda, 39, was with him.

He said: "Ayda is my rock. She has looked after me through thick and thin, and absolutely every career move I've made over the last 12 years has been OK'd by my wife. Ayda's a member of the general public too, and the general public usually get it right. Ayda does know about music but nobody has a formula for what's going to make a pop star. If we got anybody from the street then their opinion would be just as valid too."

Ayda added: "If it wasn't a challenge it wouldn't be so much fun. I'm excited to be the underdog and show the boys how it's done.

"Without me Rob would be lost. And the fact that we get to work together and against each other is very exciting. We are so competitive. We compete about everything, even when we're reading bedtime stories to the kids."

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