As fans of The X Factor will know, on Saturday night’s live show, judge Tulisa told the now sadly eliminated Melanie Masson that she was “in full MILF mode” and just minutes later, host Dermot O’Leary apologised to viewers for the remark.

He said, “I want to apologise for the language Tulisa used. Naughty, naughty but that’s why we love her.”

Apparently, Dermot was told to make the apology by the show’s producers, even though it’s of course an acronym and not a stand-alone profanity, and it aired long after the watershed anyway.

Viewers took to Twitter to express their surprise over the incident, with one person remarking, “Not really sure why lots of folks were in a stooshie about Tulisa saying MILF.”

Another wrote, “I cannot believe Tulisa isn’t allowed to say MILF at 10.30pm. Has the world gone mad?”

Yet another commented, “Tulisa said MILF at 10.30 and that’s not allowed? What?”

Yesterday, a senior X Factor insider said of the apology, “It was a bit over-cautious and over-sensitive.”

What did you think? Was it a big fuss about nothing?

Meanwhile, former judge Sharon Osbourne has slammed Simon Cowell, saying that he’s ageist in regard to the women he chooses to represent the show as judges.

Speaking at a radio convention in Sydney, Australia, about The X Factor and judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato – who of course judge on X Factor USA – the Daily Star reports that 60 year old Sharon said, “There’s no substitute for life experience.”

She added, “I adore Simon but he’s ageist with women.”

Meanwhile, a show source said, “Simon is very fond of Sharon and won’t rule out working with her again.”

I’d love to see Sharon back on X Factor. Would you?