He may have found fame on The X Factor but Nicholas McDonald remains unconvinced by the show's revamped line-up.

Auditions for the ITV talent show have already begun, with previous judges Mel B and Louis Walsh, McDonald's former mentor, being replaced by Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw and singer Rita Ora.

However, the Glaswegian singer says Walsh should have stayed on the show and is skeptical about what Grimshaw will bring to the panel.

He said: "I wouldn't be happy if Nick Grimshaw was my judge. Louis knows what he's talking about, he's got more experience than any of them on that panel. I don't know if Nick Grimshaw can offer the same advice as Louis because he doesn't sing, he doesn't perform, he's never had any songs out, he's probably never been on stage and performed a song.

"Even though Simon doesn't sing it's his show, he knows what the public want to hear and what songs suit other people. I don't think Nick Grimshaw will know what songs suit an artist, I'm confused as to why he's there.

"It'll be interesting to watch. I'm saying he doesn't know what to do with artists, just watch he'll go to the final and win it in his first year!"

Simon Cowell has said that this will be a make or break year for the show, which launched in September 2004.

However, McDonald says that, if the show goes, it will be missed by budding artists and the general public.

He said: "I would be sad to see it go, it's a programme that people look forward to, it finishes in December and people start talking about it again in January.

"Getting rid of it would be bad because it would mean young people like myself wouldn't get the opportunity to show themselves as an artist."

McDonald has gone from relative obscurity to a household name since reaching the show's 2013 final.

His debut album, In the Arms of an Angel, went to number six in the UK charts and he has toured the country, playing some of the UK's biggest venues, including Glasgow's SSE Hydro and Hampden Park. He is now working on his second record, which is due out next year.

He said: "We've not named the album yet but we've got loads of good songs written so I'm really excited for it to come out. It's been such a long process and such a lot of effort has been put in but it's definitely going to be worth it when people hear the songs.

"It's totally different from the first album, there's definitely going to be more upbeat and straight pop stuff.

"I know what my fans like so it's going to be a bit of a change but I feel that I'm grown up and my fans are too and they want more mature music so I think they will respect the direction that I'm taking."

The 18-year-old from Wishaw is currently in the middle of a UK tour and has revealed that Greg Horan, the brother of One Direction's Niall Horan, will be joining him on the 11 dates.

He said: "I know the One Direction boys really well and I'm really friendly with Niall's older brother Gregg so he's coming on the tour with me as a tour manager and security."

McDonald will play Glasgow's O2 ABC on Wednesday, July 29 and promises fans an evening they will not forget.

He said: "It's going to be a lot of high energy, good fun and excitement. I'm really excited because we've got a live band. It's crazy to get an opportunity like this to sing, never mind people wanting to come out and see you.

"Glasgow's the last date of the tour so it should be really good fun. No matter where I go in Glasgow or what kind of show I do people are always up for it and they appreciate you more. It's just different compared to any other show.

"I'm so honoured even just to have the opportunity to do it because people dream of doing it at my age so I'm loving every moment of it."

Nicholas McDonald will play the O2 ABC on Wednesday, July 29.