With Dannii due to give birth in July, Simon Cowell has said that it’s ‘impossible’ for the judge to be present on the panel throughout the next series
Dannii Minogue looks set to lose her X Factor panel spot for the next series, with her first baby due in July.
A senior show boss said last night: ‘Simon sees the X Factor as a programme that is constantly evolving and developing.'
SEE DANNII MINOGUE'S EVER-CHANGING HAIR HERE!
‘He knows Dannii was a big part of the show's success last year, but he's been thinking about tinkering with the formula for some time.'
‘The only spanner in the works is that Dannii is now pregnant,' they continued,
‘Simon is acutely aware how this could play out in public. He doesn't want to be seen as getting rid of Dannii because she's pregnant but realistically he knows it will be impossible for her to do the whole show from the auditions through to the live finals.'
‘It's a real dilemma, but one option being considered is the possibility of giving Dannii a mentoring role on the show but not on the panel.'
Last week, a series of discussions about the seventh series of the hugely popular talent show took place at Simon's Los Angeles mansion.
Fellow judges Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh have both been told their jobs are safe, and are set to sign contracts next month.
Simon has also confirmed that his fiancée Mezghan Hussainy will be joining the crew as make-up artist, which could also see her appearing on screen.
Hotly tipped to replace Dannii as judge is American Idol panelist Paula Abdul, who worked alongside Simon for eight years before quitting the US show last year.
Will the show be the same without Dannii on the panel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below!
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