Robbie Williams' dad stood in as a judge on 'The X Factor'.

Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams

The 'Angels' singer shocked the audience at London's SSE Arena, Wembley, when he took a seat among the spectators and let veteran entertainer Pete Conway join his wife Ayda Field and fellow panellists Simon Cowell and Louis Tomlinson in delivering his opinions on the wannabe pop stars.

A source told The Sun newspaper's TV Biz column: "Onlookers couldn't believe it when Robbie just got out of his judge's chair and plonked himself among them.

"Even more surprising was just how good his dad was as a judge -- but then he is an entertainer too, so he knows talent when he sees it and he can work a crowd.

"There must be something in the Williams' blood that makes them a natural when they're in the spotlight."

Among the hopefuls Pete ruled over was classical trio Tre Amici and he was very impressed by their rendition of 'Nessun Dorma'.

He said: "I'm glad I'm not up next! That one is going to be hard to follow.

"I've been here all day and seen a lot of acts and that's the best we have seen."

Robbie eventually took his seat back on the panel.

But it seems the 44-year-old star is feeling his age as some of the younger auditionees don't know very much about him.

A show source told the Daily Star newspaper: "A lot of the kids auditioning for 'X Factor' were not born when Take That were huge and were not around when Robbie launched his solo career.

"They are more thrilled to see Louis Tomlinson from 1D as it's more relevant to their growing up."

And the 'Let Me Entertain You' singer's spouse has used this as a source for jokes at her husband's expense.

Robbie told one teenager singer, who had cited her inspiration as Louis' former band: "Hi. My name is Robbie Williams. I used to be in a band called Take That. Your parents will know me."

His wife quipped: "More like her grandparents."

And when the 'Loose Women' star told another hopeful his dancing was similar to that seen in Take That's early video 'Do What You Like', Robbie said: "There's not a single person in this room old enough to know that song."

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