American Idol starts this week (ITV2, Thursday 15 January, 8pm) and there’s a new judge in town, joining Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. Simon Cowell has added a new, female judge to the UK version, The X Factor, very successfully. Cheryl Cole was drafted in and immediately became a hugely popular member of the team, and Cowell has copied this refresh strategy for American Idol. The new judge’s name is called Kara DioGuardi. Who she?

For all our X Factor news and reviews, go here.

Quite a lot of US newspapers and TV blogs have been asking whether you should change such a successful format, especially when it trounces all-comers in the ratings charts. Have a read here and here to join in the discussion.

For this series, there’s an increase in semi-finalists, a wild card round (essentially a second chance round) and, of course, a new judge.

Kara DioGuardi, says wikipedia, is a songwriter, producer and singer and has worked with the likes of Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and… current American Idol judge, Paula Abdul. Apparently, she’s had 39 Top 10 albums so far, which is weird because I have literally never heard of her. She also co-owns Arthouse Entertainment, one of America’s most successful music publishing houses that’s behind a host of top pop smashes.

So far, so nice fit. Only time will tell whether the show’s refresh will have an alienating effect or demonstrate the fact that Simon Cowell is always bloody right. Which, let’s face it, whether you love him or loathe him he normally is.