Simon Cowell has reportedly booked some of the shining stars from this year’s Olympics to help out on The X factor.

The series returned to ITV1 last night and featured guest judge Mel B as well as new panel member Nicole Scherzinger and if reports are to be believed, very soon there will be other famous faces working with the hopeful contestants.

Insiders told The Mirror that Cowell wants to tap into the Olympic fever that has gripped the nation over this summer and has persuaded a number of top class athletes to appear in a special episode, which will air in just a few weeks time.

Sheffield’s track and field medal winner Jessica ­Ennis, British running champion Mo Farrah, eleven-time world champion, six-time Olympic champion and a winner of a total of seven Olympic Games medals cyclist Chris Hoy and 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins will reportedly all work with one category of performers and help motivate and prepare them for the challenges ahead on the talent series.

An insider explained:

“X Factor producers were literally jumping up and down with delight when they heard that all four Team GB stars had agreed to do the show.”

They added:

“The four of them are going to take a category each and spend the day giving ­contestants motivational advice. If these wannabes really want to achieve their dreams and win the X Factor then there are no better people to spend time with.”

However anyone who thinks that Cowell is getting all patriotic and overwhelmed by pride in his country after their bumper Olympic medal haul, they should think again. It seems this is a purely business driven decision by the TV boss, as it turns out he barely even watched or read about the games while they were taking place.

The insider continued:

“Simon Cowell wasn’t that bothered about the Olympics before it got started and he stayed out of the country for most of it, but he is a brilliant ­businessman and he knows an opportunity when he sees one.”

Making matters worse and lowering our opinion of the music mogul even more, they added insult to injury saying:

“The Olympics were an absolute sensation, and Simon is determined to cash in on the goodwill and enthusiasm of the country. He can also see the irony of using the stars of what was ultimately a BBC event to help boost his own ratings.”

The X Factor returned last night for it’s first episode and featured some very talented singers such as Ella Henderson and Jahmene Douglas. It wasn’t free from controversy and OMG moments either, with Zoe Alexander‘s epic tantrum and Mel B’s caustic comments.

It seems that Simon is determined to spice up the new series as much as possible, which is no doubt what this latest Olympic idea is about.

However, despite the fact that his booking is financially driven, we think the contestants could learn a lot from the mind set of the Olympians. They are certainly going to need a steely nerve and reserve of determination if they want to do battle with their fellow hopefuls and the British press for the next four months!

Are you excited about the prospect of Olympic assistants? Leave your comments below…