Gary Barlow has admitted that he thinks the groups will do well on this year’s X Factor series.

The Take That star is mentoring the overs this year and chose Melanie Masson, Kye Sones and Carolynne Poole as his three finalists for the live shows.

Speaking on This Morning today he was asked who his biggest competition was and though he praised all his rival categories, Gaz seemed most impressed by the talent in Louis Walsh’s groups this year.

When asked which category was the biggest threat to his acts, Barlow said:

“I think for the first year ever, every category actually.”

He added:

“I was watching judges houses and I seem to remember from the auditions there was no groups this year but all the groups were great. I couldn’t pick last year, I can’t pick this year.”

When he was asked what he thought of controversial singer Rylan Clark, Gary just laughed and said:

“No comment.”

The dad of three said he is enjoying his time with his three singers this week, as they prepare for the first live show, but after the trio gushed about what a lovely time they were having, he warned them that things will get much tougher next week, once the competition gets properly underway.

He explained:

“This week is nice in the X Factor camp but next week will return to the pressure. I think rather than this show being a singing competition, it’s a real mind competition as well.”

Barlow continued:

“The focus that these guys have to have to go out there every week, the singing is actually the easy bit.”

On why he thinks people should vote for his singers, over the nine other acts on the ITV show, Gaz said:

“They are very individual, they have different musical styles, that’s what will make them stand out.”

The X Factor live shows start this Saturday night and the supposed song list for the singers has been leaked online. Check it out and tell us what you think of Gary’s comments below….