An EastEnders actor is the latest star to sign up to Celebrity X Factor.

Jonny Labey, who played Paul Coker on the BBC soap, is among the big names who've reportedly agreed to be part of the new version of the ITV show.

The star is known as the face of Ben Mitchell's late love interest and he's said to already be the front-runner after wowing the judges in LA during his audition.

A show source told the Daily Star  : "Jonny has really impressed the panel with his vocal ability.

Jonny Labey as Paul Coker in EastEnders
Jonny Labey as Paul Coker in EastEnders

"They weren't expecting him to be as good as he is. Everyone working on the show is saying he'll be one to watch.

"The public know him for his acting, but this will be his chance to show he can sing too."

It's not his first experience of TV talent shows, having previously competed in and won ITV's 'Dance, Dance, Dance' in 2017,

He also has experience in musical theatre and has starred in Strictly Ballroom the Musical.

Jonny Labey and Chrissy Brooke win Dance Dance Dance 2017
Jonny Labey and Chrissy Brooke win Dance Dance Dance 2017

The new X Factor format is one of two that will be airing back-to-back in the Autumn in a bid to combat sliding ratings - the second being an All-Star edition featuring past winners.

Vinnie Jones is another celebrity who's understood to be competing on the show, despite his wife's recent death .

Simon Cowell will be joined on the judging panel by former X Factor judges, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh.

The trio are back
The trio are back

And the Irishman said he agreed that it was time to give The X Factor a new format: "It’s been so long as the old X Factor it had to change.

"I don’t know what he’s planning for next year but this year I think the celebrity version is going to be brilliant and then the best of is like, wow.

"Simon doesn’t want us to know who is doing the celebrity version and he doesn’t want to know. I’m going on Tuesday and we start on Wednesday.

"It’s going to be new and fun, it’s going to be Love Island meets everything, it’s going to be bigger and better."