Simon Cowell – The X Factor 2010

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’.

My vocabulary is as wide as, well, whatever, but even I was lost for words at the news that Simon Cowell is quitting X Factor.

He’s leaving to set up a billion-pound global TV and entertainment empire – clearly forgetting he’s already got one.

X Factor without the irritable Cowell syndrome just won’t be the same.

Cowell is the man who made stars of Michelle McManus, Leon Jackson and Piers Morgan but never let that put him off searching for a new one.

He was name-checked earlier this year by Barack Obama, which shocked Cowell – the US President had been warned never to take his name in vain.

And vain is a word often used to describe Cowell who, while not married at 49, has had a 30-year love affair with himself. He’s the kind of man who will end up dying in his own arms.

But, unlike ITV, he does make compelling television and there’s no doubt X Factor will be poorer without him – though Cowell certainly won’t be.

The race is now on to replace Cowell, with Robbie Williams, the fat dancer from Take That, 8-1 favourite to fill his pointy shoes.

His ex-girlfriend Sinitta gets a 20-1 quote, with former Spice Girl Emma Bunton 18-1. Cowell put the sin in Sinitta but categorically denies having anything to do with Bunton.