Rumours are rife that Sharon Osbourne, the queen of the X Factor is thinking of leaving the ITV1 show and Jennifer Lopez is said to be in negotiations with the show’s bosses to replace Mrs O.

A source tells The People, “Jennifer knows that she’s got a massive fan base in the UK.

“Getting Dannii Minogue on board has proved a big hit. Now Simon Cowell wants to take the show to the next level and make X Factor an international success. People Stateside will tune in just to see Jen.

“She won’t come cheap but Simon knows it will be a great investment – just the thing the show needs to become a hit in the States.”