14 DAY TRIAL // When three of the judges on X Factor left the panel (Cheryl Cole, Simon Cowell and Dannii Minogue) and were replaced, many feared that would be the end of the show. However, the addition of Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos and Kelly Rowland has proved such a success that they’ll be back for a new season.
Fresh reports cited by the Daily Mail inform that Kelly and Tulisa are a sure go for a new season of the show – and may actually see their salaries doubled, which is perfect proof of how happy Simon Cowell is with them.
Barlow is yet to make a final decision on whether he wants to be back but, should he be inclined to, he will most surely find his spot saved for him.
Cowell, who is now hard at work in the US on the American version of the same show, which is the reason why he left the British one in the first place, is reportedly very happy with how the latest season fared in the ratings.
“This is the best the show has ever been,” he reportedly told his staff, happy with his choice of judges.
So happy is he with Tulisa and Kelly that he’s believed to have already offered them a considerable pay raise, which would mean Tulisa would soon earn £500,000 ($783,850) , while Kelly £800,000 ($1.25 million).
“Tulisa and Kelly will definitely be back. Simon believes Tulisa is the next Cheryl and will be even bigger. At first Simon was worried about Cheryl not being on the show but those worries have now disappeared,” insiders are quoted as saying.
As for talk that Cheryl Cole is still hot on Cowell’s list and may return to the panel sometime later, that is completely out of the question, says the Mail.
“Now Simon has decided it would be a backward step to reinstate her. He gets annoyed if anyone suggests Kelly Rowland or Tulisa may have to make way for her return. That is categorically not going to happen,” says another unnamed source.