AS the nation settles down for a new series of X-Factor on Saturday night, a former finalist will be sharpening his pencils, and perhaps his claws, to bring Guardian readers an exclusive column of gossip and insider insights.

Christopher Maloney made it to the top three in the hit TV talent show in 2012 and is keen to see what 2015 will bring.

The Liverpudlian performer, who stars as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at Hartford's The Grange Theatre, this Christmas, will share his thoughts on each week's events with a column in the Guardian's Weekend section.

"I've got a lot of behind the scenes gossip – I always get myself a little spy,"he said.

"Readers should just expect me to be honest and maybe sometimes brutal, but not in a negative kind of way.

"I give my own opinion and my own thoughts on the show.

"I try to predict things then see if I'm right the next week."

This year sees a new panel of judges under the spotlight with Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw joining Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez Versini.

"I like Rita Ora," Christopher said.

"I think she's great – she'll bring something to the panel and to the show.

"I don't know about Nick Grimshaw – I know him personally as a friend, I've been on his TV show and on Radio One and I know he's a great guy but I don't know how it'll work on the X Factor.

"Statistically the public that watch it are aged between 31 and 63 so I'm very shocked that they haven't put in an older judge."

Christopher had a well-publicised hard time in the show in 2012 but does not regret his X Factor experience.

"It was tainted by various lies but it's a competition so people are going to try to make things up about you and discredit you so you lose votes," he said.

"It took a lot of the fun out of it and I don't think I enjoyed it as much as everyone else enjoyed it – I wish I'd had more fun.

"But without the show I wouldn't be where I am today – I wouldn't have met so many fabulous people like Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh, I still speak to Cheryl and Simon every now and again, I've made some great friends.

"I'm doing what I love to do every single day.

"I've got a lot to thank the show for."

For Christopher's first X Factor column see the Guardian on September 2.