The X Factor 2010

[Perdita]

Dannii Minogue will be told that she must accept a pay cut if she wants to return to The X Factor this year, a report has claimed.

According to The Mirror, show bosses plan to slash Minogue's £1 million salary by up to £300,000 because she will not be appearing at the auditions due to her pregnancy.

Minogue, who flew back to London from Australia earlier this week, is expected to meet producers today to discuss arrangements for the new series.

An X Factor source said: "This meeting is the first step to getting Dannii back on the show. If a solution can be worked out she will be here again at the live stages.

"We are very, very keen for her to come back so at this stage, it doesn't look like her pregnancy is going to present any problems we can't work around."

Reports suggest that Simon Cowell is planning to recruit guest judges who will fill in for Minogue while she is away.

DS

[lizann]

Mum-to-be Dannii Minogue is expected to see her £1million 'X Factor' deal cut today when she meets the show's bosses to discuss her contract for this year's series. The reality TV star, who is due to give birth in July, is to be replaced by guest judges during the live auditions because of her pregnancy. Whilst bosses are keen to keep her in the show when she is able to return, they are set to cut down her contract by as much as £300,000 according to The Mirror.

A source told the paper: "This meeting is the first step to getting Dannii back on the show. If a solution can be worked out she will be here again at the live stages. We are very, very keen for her to come back so at this stage, it doesn’t look like her pregnancy is going to present any problems we can’t work around."

Stars rumoured to cover for Dannii while she is away include Robbie Williams, Mel B, Ronan Keating and Paula Abdul.

[Perdita]

Pregnant Dannii Minogue has agreed a £700,000 deal to return to X Factor, telling friends: “I’m so excited”.

Radiant Dannii, 38, met producers in London yesterday to discuss how she would juggle appearing on the show and becoming a new mum.

She is due to give birth in July as the live auditions are under way.

An X Factor source said: “After the last series finished there was a lot of confusion as to whether Dannii would stay or not.

“However it became clear just how popular she was.

“The talks went really well and Dannii is set to start after the birth of her baby and when the live shows begin in September.

“Dannii is delighted. She has a baby on the way, a loving boyfriend and now a new TV deal.”

Although Dannii’s new contract has yet to be signed, both parties have agreed in principal. It will see her previous £1million contract cut by around £300,000 as she will unable to attend the auditions due to her pregnancy.

Dannii and boyfriend Kris Smith are planning for the baby to be bron in Melbourne. The X Factor live rounds normally begin in late September, giving her two months to recover. Replacements for Dannii during the audition rounds are yet to be confirmed.

But as The Mirror exclusively revealed last month, sister Kylie is high on the TV bosses’ wish-list.

An ITV source added: “We love Dannii and everyone wants her back on The X Factor. It just wouldn’t be the same without her.” And Dannii won’t be the only one making a comeback.

Determined wannabe Emma Chawner is hoping it will be third time lucky – despite two humiliating put-downs by judge Simon Cowell in previous auditions.

The high-pitched singer has put herself forward yet again and will appear at Manchester’s Old Trafford for one of the show’s early rounds.

Emma first auditioned back in 2007, wearing a dress made by her dad. She was rubbished by panel after singing the Titanic theme tune, My Heart Will Go On.

Simon said she sang “like a baby” – sparking the fury of the tubby star’s family who said she had won competitions. Last year Emma turned up to duet with her sister.

After screeching through a rendition of Whole Again by Atomic Kitten, they were stopped by an infuriated Simon who said: “It was arguably twice as bad as before. You can’t sing”

Emma, who later blamed her weight for her poor performance, pleaded: “Give us a chance to improve.”

But Simon replied: “We have weeks – not decades.”

[sindydoll]

£700,000 for half a series is outragous

[Perdita]

I think that £700,000 for a whole series is wayyyyyy too much

[sindydoll]

I think that £700,000 for a whole series is wayyyyyy too much

well yes it is lol but she is only doing half because of her pregnancy!! there so greedy when there is all this poverty in the world

[alan45]

Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh has revealed that she would love to appear as a guest judge on The X Factor this year.

The former Hear'Say singer, now best known for playing Weatherfield's Michelle Connor, discussed her ambition following reports that a variety of stars will be recruited to fill in for pregnant Dannii Minogue at the auditions.

Writing in her New magazine column, Marsh explained: "I read that Simon Cowell is thinking about having a guest judge to sit in for Dannii Minogue at each regional audition for The X Factor. I would really love to be considered as a stand-in at the Manchester rounds!"

She continued: "In fact, I bumped into Louis Walsh - who I get on very well with - at the Fashion Kicks show, and told him I'd jump at the chance to be involved in the show. So I'm hoping he'll put in a good word for me!"

Marsh has previously described a permanent place on The X Factor panel as her "dream job".

[Perdita]

Simon Cowell will not receive a salary increase when he renews his contract with ITV, a report has claimed.

The music mogul's £20 million 'golden handcuffs' arrangement with the broadcaster expired in December, but he is expected to finalise plans for a new deal this week.

According to the Daily Mail, Cowell's main priority is to ensure that more money is spent on The X Factor in order to improve the contest's live shows.

A source told the newspaper: "Simon is not getting a pay rise. He is more concerned about the budget being raised for The X Factor to make sure it returns bigger and better."

Meanwhile, Cheryl Cole is apparently not receiving a £700,000 salary boost for her work on the programme, despite previous rumours.

The insider added: "Cowell has not given Cheryl such a big pay increase. He adores Cheryl, but she realises that this year, Simon wants the show to be great and needs more money to be spent on production for the viewers at home."

[Perdita]

Outrageous pop queen LADY GAGA is to make a sensational return to The X Factor as a guest replacement for mumto-be judge DANNII MINOGUE.

She has agreed to adjudicate at the live auditions stage - making them even more ga ga.

The Poker Face singer - real name STEFANI GERMANOTTA, 24 - will be paid around £110,000 and a source confirmed: "It's now a case of dotting the Is and crossing the Ts.

"Simon Cowell and everyone involved knows just how much of a ratings draw Lady GaGa will be."

The star, who performed in Tokyo last week, right, appeared on last year's show wearing a metallic outfit with devil horns, singing her single Bad Romance on a toilet. Now bosses are keen to line up other star names to cover until Dannii, 37, returns. She is expecting her child with KRIS SMITH in July.

Cowell's American Idol co-judge PAULA ABDUL, 47, and former Spice Girl MEL B, 34, have been approached but VICTORIA BECKHAM, 36, will not be appearing when the ITV1 show returns to our screens in August. The auditions stage started two weeks ago.

Last week I told how ITV chiefs were close to completing a deal to screen it after months of negotiations with Cowell, 50.

He drafted in tough negotiator SIR PHILIP GREEN, 58, and has now won an extra £5 million investment in production costs - believing the previous series had begun to look dated.

The source added: "With the likes of Lady GaGa lined up ITV will be getting their money's worth, even with the extra."

The People

[Perdita]

Lee Ryan has claimed that he should be on the judging panel for The X Factor.

The 'Secret Love' singer, who lauded the talent show for being a "great platform", said that he has a "wealth of experience" to give to contestants.

"As far as X Factor goes, I was saying how great I think it is. It's a great platform for people these days and there's a lot more opportunity for people to get into the industry and different avenues for people to take with the internet," he told STV.

"You can think outside the box and market yourself and that's literally all I was saying. I would love to do something like that because I think I have had a wealth of experience so far in this industry.

"I've survived a lot longer than a lot of people out there and I think that you see a lot of people come and go and I've been in the industry so long now that I would love to give some help."