Nicole Scherzinger has hit back at claims the 'X Factor' jukebox is rigged.

Nichole Scherzinger

Nichole Scherzinger

The 38-year-old musician - who is mentoring the boys in the singing competition - has defended the new gimmick that selects the theme for the following week's songs after fans of the show pointed out that it conveniently selected Fright Night for the weekend before Halloween.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper, the former Pussycat Doll said: "I genuinely think that it's not fixed because I know every week I can't pick my songs until we know what [theme] we're doing - and the producers aren't picking anything as well.

"I think it's perfect. I think it's meant to be. It's fricking Fright Night.

"No one wants Fright Night around Christmas time or Thanksgiving."

And the 'Don't Cha' hitmaker - who is joined on the judging panel by Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh - admitted that head honcho Simon was expecting the backlash from fans when the theme was chosen.

She said: "When it did land on Fright Night, Simon said 'Oh we are going to get reamed because everyone's going to think it's fixed now.'"

Meanwhile, Sharon - who mentors the over 25's - said she is thrilled about the theme, and can't wait to see what her acts Honey G and Saara Aalto will do on the live show.

She said: "I can be pretty wicked. No idea what I'll do with Honey yet. I wonder if they're allowed to dress up."

Nicole's two remaining boys - 22-year-old Matt Terry and 20-year-old Ryan Lawrie - will join the rest of the contestants as they take to the stage on Saturday (29.10.16) to perform their Fright Night hits.

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