X Factor boss Simon Cowell has been BEGGING last years rejected favourite to return and audition for this years series of The X Factor, which is currently being filmed across the country.

16-year-old Mali Michael McCalla dazzled in last years series of the ITV1 talent show, but was sent home when judges ruled he was one year too young at just 15. Bosses expected the youngster to return and be a huge favourite this years, but the teenager has repeatedly turned them down.

Baffled Simon Cowell went one step further, and begged the Londoner in person last week when he appeared at the auditions to support his dad Noel, who was trying out for the over-25’s category.

But yesterday a friend of Mali said he has joined a new boyband named NSA. They have already been in meetings with top producers in the US and look set to sign a £1million pound recording contract. The friend said: “Its the real deal. He doesn’t want to be associated with reality shows any more.”

X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue return to our screens next month.

Simon Cowell and Dannii Minogue had a furious falling out earlier this week whilst filming the new series of X Factor.

The two X Factor judges clashed during the third day of London auditions after Simon repeatedly cut her off with sarcastic put-downs as she commented on performers.

Furious Dannii waited until a break in filming and then let rip at him, warning him to stop undermining her in front of everybody. Upon returning to the set, Dannii had moved to sit at the end of the judges line-up.

Dannii usually sits between Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh, but upon returning from a break, she sat at the end of the table, the furthest point from Simon Cowell. Sources from the auditions said: “Simon was in an impatient mood and kept interrupting Dannii with very sarcastic remarks when she tried to give her opinion on acts.“

“She tried to keep calm, but before long, it all became too much for her to handle and she turned on him during one of the breaks. Dannii isn’t afraid to stick up for herself, especially after all the abuse she has received at the hands of Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, so she basically told Simon to lay off. She wanted to make it clear that she would not tolerate any kind of sniping, even from the shows boss.“

It is currently unknown whether producers of The X Factor will permanently seat Dannii at the end of the judges lineup, but an X Factor spokeswoman added: “Its not uncommon for judges to swap places during filming.”

A spokesman for Dannii Minogue said that she had already moved seats before the row had erupted. Meanwhile, it has been revealed the new format with live studio audiences is slowing filming of the ITV talent show ‘considerably’.