Entertainment

Dannii Minogue has been axed

Pascale De Bom
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 28: Singer Danni Minogue walks in the paddock before the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit on March 28, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Simon Cowell has decided to axe Dannii Minogue from the next series of The X Factor, a report has claimed.

Sources told a tabloid newspaper that Dannii’s determination to return to the show despite missing out on the early stages during maternity leave apparently angered some X Factor bosses.

An insider told The Sun that show bosses wanted one of the stand-in judges to complete the entire series.

A source said: “It’s no secret that her determination to do this year’s show annoyed people.

“Some very senior figures hoped she would step aside so they could find a new judge and keep some degree of continuity between the auditions and the live shows.”

Pundits have already predicted that Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger will be the favourite to take over on the panel when Dannii leaves.

The 32-year-old “impressed” both Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh with her performance as a stand-in.

A recent report claimed that Nicole may be asked to join the panel of the planned US version of the show in 2011.