Dannii Minogue rejects final X Factor judging offer

Dannii Minogue has reportedly rejected X Factor producers’ final offer to return to the show.

The singer – who has previously served as a judge on the show – declined an offer believed to be in the region of £1 million yesterday (Thursday, May 17) and it has been alleged that she was seeking a fee of up to £5 million.

An X Factor source told the Mail: ‘We made it no secret that we wanted Dannii to come back and we thought we could make a deal.

‘She asked for £5 million, which was silly money and clearly a negotiating tactic, a silly one at that.

‘We were in talks until late on Wednesday night and went up to £1 million for the series. Everyone thought she would take it, but she didn’t.

‘We then walked away – as our feeling was that we wouldn’t be held to ransom.’

The first auditions in front of the judges are due to take place on Wednesday, May 23 in Liverpool, which now look set to start with guest panellists filling in until a permanent judge is hired.

Louis Walsh and Gary Barlow will both return to The X Factor panel, and former N-Dubz member Tulisa Contostavlos is also expected to return.

Minogue left The X Factor in 2010 and had recently been linked with a return to the ITV1 reality show following Kelly Rowland’s departure.