It was reported this morning that Mel – who appeared on the show last year – has been axed by Simon Cowell as he continues to freshen up the singing competition.
“It is now looking very, very doubtful she will come back, Simon has made up his mind,” an insider told the Mirror. “Mel is doing America’s Got Talent at the moment so she hasn’t completely fallen out with Simon, but he wants to freshen up X Factor.”
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“One of the best ways to do that is to change the judging panel and it looks like Mel B will pay the price for that.”
Cheryl Fernandez Versini still looks certain to take up her seat again on the show, with reports last week that she’d signed a bumper pay deal to appear.
But who’ll be joining her? Ladbrokes are putting Rita right at the top of the list – with speculation she’ll jump ship from BBC show The Voice to ITV – but One Direction star Louis Tomlinson is also in the running.
Simon's BFF Sinitta and Stereo Kicks have already touted Louis to take up a place on the judging panel but Tulisa is still in with a fighting chance too.
Rank outsiders named by the bookies include Kim Kardashian, at 20/1, Noel Gallagher, Michael Buble and Jeremy Clarkson.
rita ora wacky outfits
1 of 10Flare for errr...
Taking 70s styling a tad too far at the BBC Radio 1 studios last month.
2 of 10Multi-cray
When Rita signed up to promote her own adidas designs she was SERIOUS. Look at all of that COLOUR.
3 of 10Uh-oh
Someone's being a mega rebel! That naughty word + her Kim K hair + the confused print = WOW.
4 of 10Bed style
Feeling chilly but can't find your cardi? Chuck on the dog's blanket a la Rita.
5 of 10Cloud 9
Subtle just isn't in Ora's vocab. This OTT pink cloud look was something else entirely.
6 of 10She's pants!
At least she's wearing undercrackers, eh?
7 of 10Magic eye
Wearing an outfit made out of those hologram pencil cases we used to have at school? Ingenius.
8 of 10Turkey
Another example of "takes things too far". We bet that was on her school report.
9 of 10Not so innocent
Who really needs a massive backpack when performing onstage? Also, those trousers... Net curtains or what?
10 of 10