Dannii Minogue has admitted that she was devastated when Sharon Osbourne publicly slated her in 2007.

The new mum revealed that it was hard enough to work with the older woman on The X Factor but things became increasingly cold after Sharon rubbished her on the Graham Norton show.

Minogue told Now: “I was devastated when she went on to Graham Norton’s show and laid into me. I then had to see her on the show a few days later. It was awful.

“It’s not any sort of behaviour I’d ever been exposed to before.”

However Dannii revealed that show boss Simon Cowell made things more bearable for her. She added:

“Simon knew how vulnerable I was which was probably why he was so protective towards me.

“My first ever day on the show I told Simon he’d helped me focus on something other than my sister’s cancer battle.”

On returning to the ITV talent show this autumn Dannii said:

“It’s the best job in the world. I love being a judge. Long may it last.”