Fellow judge Louis Walsh has let slip that ITV are planning nig changes to next years show
X Factor judge Louis Walsh has let slip Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole may not be returning to next year’s show, after landing a contract to take the talent contest stateside.
The Irish music mogul has revealed the pair have yet to sign contracts for next year’s hit, and may not appear altogether if they can’t fit it around the American version of the show.
'It will be me and Dannii with two more people,' Louis told the News of the World over the weekend, fuelling rumours the pair are set to leave.
It’s thought both Simon and Cheryl see commuting between the US and the UK as too time consuming, but are still looking at how it could work.
'How his role with The X Factor UK will work is still being discussed,' a spokesman for Simon said yesterday.
Privately, it’s thought the judge doesn’t want anything to come in the way of his US X Factor success.
'Simon's priority is making the U.S. X Factor the biggest TV show in the world,’ on insider told the Daily Mail.
'Cheryl wants to have a life. She doesn't want to spend two days a week on flights across the Atlantic.'
Insiders say ITV are hell bent on persuading the stars to stay, and could even consider moving the show to spring, to avoid a clash with the American version of the hit.
But alredy talk has turned to who could replace Cheryl and Simon if they leave, with Sharon Osbourne, Katy Perry and Nicole Scherzinger all among rumours doing the rounds.
Who would you like to see replace Simon and Cheryl if they don’t return to the show next year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.