Dannii Minogue has confirmed that she won’t be able to attend this year’s X Factor auditions.

Ms Minogue is expecting her first child with partner Kris Smith and wants to give birth in an Australian hospital. As she is due in July and the X Factor auditions run right through the summer, she has ruled out the chance of her sitting on the panel at that stage.

When asked if she would be auditioning hopefuls, Dannii told The Mirror:

“If they’re auditioning in the hospital in Australia, yes, but otherwise no!”

“I will totally miss Cheryl and Louis and Simon, and not being there for the auditions, but I really need to be near my family in Australia at such an important time.”

But Dannii is hoping to be back later in the series. She added:

“I don’t know what is happening. I just adore it and I had such a fun time last year. I’d love to be part of it somehow even if I just pop back and visit.”

Today she told The Sun: “If possible I would love to be a part of the live shows and continue to fly the Team Minogue flag.”

And her spokesman said: “Dannii has absolutely not quit The X Factor. Although she is having her baby at home in Australia, she would very much like to still be a part of the show in some capacity when it returns later this year.”