Simon Cowell is hoping his luck will strike twice as he plans to create a new boy band to rival One Direction.
The 64-year-old music mogul formed the band X Factor in 2011, bringing together solo wannabes Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson.
He has now launched a new search for male singers, with auditions taking place across the UK and Ireland over the coming weeks, all to be filmed for the TV show by production company Box to Box.
Announcing the search in London on Tuesday, the businessman held up a sign that read, “Simon needs you! Looking for future megastars for our new boy band. Don't waste your time.”
He later told PA: “Every generation needs a big star boy band but in 14 years we haven't had one that has had the success of One Direction. The industry tends to focus on solo artists and you usually need someone from the outside to form a group.”
“Nothing beats the fun of touring the world with a group and performing in front of thousands of people and it's also a great launchpad for a solo career. Having a great group is like lightning in a bottle, but there's no magic formula and a lot of luck involved!”
Auditions will take place in Newcastle on July 4th and 5th, Liverpool on July 7th and 8th, Dublin on July 28th and 29th, and London on August 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and are open to boys aged 16 to 18.