Robbie Williams slams X Factor boss Simon Cowell for being too busy to help contestants

Robbie is joining his friend and new judge Gary Barlow at a mansion in Los Angeles to help pick four finalists from the boys category at the judges houses stage.

The 37-year-old told British newspaper the Daily Star: 'Previously the judges maybe gave them half an hour if they were lucky.

'I think the ones that are going to make it this year need help and need a guiding arm put around them.

'I love The X Factor, I love the spectacle and being entertained, but they haven’t got the music right in the past.

'Gary knows what he is doing. As a mentor he is going to be full-on.

'He's going to be closer than anyone has been in the past. I think that is what is needed.'

Gary, 40, who has taken over as head judge after music mogul Cowell, 51, left the panel to work on the US version of the talent competition, says he wants to improve the show by spending as much time as he can with his acts.

He added: 'This is where I want to change things. You are going to see real mentoring for the first time.

'With time being put into these kids we'll see better quality acts.'