Simon Cowell has confirmed that reports of intense rivallry between X Factor judges, Sharon Osbourne and Dannii Minogue have not been completely fabricated.

“Look, it’s fair to say that Sharon and Dannii are never going to be the best of buddies,” Cowell told the Daily Star. “In all the time we have been together, I have never seen any arguments. But Sharon would be the first to admit she felt a little uncomfortable having someone new on the panel when we started off.

“I think the deep-rooted problem with Sharon is that this is the fourth series and so far she’s never won. So this year she’s more determined than ever to win. Now Dannii has come on and she wants to prove she can do a better job than all of us and win. So there is competition and rivalry.”