Dannii Minogue has reportedly been offered a return to The X Factor this summer.
The Aussie popstar quit the show last year, blaming schedules clashes with the audition dates and her commitments to Australia’s Got Talent.
But the Sunday Mirror claims that Simon Cowell plans to bring back Dannii to replace Kelly Rowland, even though she has apparently been left ‘devastated’ by recent reports that she’d had a fling with her old boss.
A ‘source close to Cowell’ told the newspaper: “Simon thinks she’s great. They are still friends. If it works out, then it will be fantastic for X Factor. No formal offer has yet gone out but this is likely to happen in the next few days.”
Another insider added: “Dannii is the top of ITV’s wish-list for new judges on the show and they are keen to begin official talks. She is extremely popular among X Factor fans and would still be a big draw.”
It was claimed last week that it was “unlikely” that Kelly would return to the show this year after talks with producers stalled.
The US star joined the show last year, but sources claim bosses felt she didn’t “connect” with viewers.
The insider continued: “[Simon] loved Kelly’s appeal last year. But she didn’t quite have the fizz he was expecting and wasn’t sure her heart was 100 per cent in it by the end.”
Meanwhile, Katy Perry is apparently set to return become an X Factor guest judge again, having previously sat behind the desk in 2010.
“Simon’s obsessed with Katy and tells anyone who’ll listen what an amazing talent she is,” a source said. “She’s agreed to be a guest judge on this year’s show, which he’s hugely excited by.”
So far only Gary Barlow has been officially announced as part of panel, with just two weeks before auditions start filming.
Boss Simon teased on Twitter recently: “I have some very exciting (and interesting!) @TheXFactor UK & @TheXFactorUSA news coming to you very soon…”
Auditions for the show start recording in Cardiff on May 15.
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