X Factor: Sharon Osbourne to be fired in February?

Simon Cowell still hasn't had the courage to fire Sharon Osbourne, although he will probably delegate the task to one of the "executive producers" of The X Factor when the time comes.

It is not feasible that both Sharon Osbourne and the star of series four, Dannii Minogue will both be back for series five.

According to today's Sun, an X Factor source has said: “...Simon has banged both their heads together and told them, ‘If you don’t shut up – I can replace you both’.

“They don’t have to be best friends - but they do have to work together.”

But whether Simon Cowell bangs heads or does anything else, Sharon Osbourne will be even more incensed that Dannii Minogue is still on the show. This time last year Dannii was the rookie judge. This year she has shown Sharon and the others how things should be done on The X Factor, leaving the acts of Simon and Louis trailing in their wake. No one can even remember the names of Sharon's acts now. Dannii got the number one and number two spots in the final. The show needs her to retain its credibility. It needs a replacement for Sharon Osbourne to increase it.

More news on The X Factor here as soon as we get it.