Matt Cardle has admitted that he’s still holding out hope that Dannii Minogue will return to The X factor.

The former painter and decorator won the ITV show back in 2010 and was mentored by the Australian singer in what proved to be her last series. She stepped down last year, when the audition dates clashed with her Australia’s Got Talent schedule, but Cardle thinks the time is right for her to make a comeback.

Simon Cowell still hasn’t found a fourth star to join the panel and this week, Tulisa, Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh have been joined by guest judges Geri Halliwell, Rita Ora and Leona Lewis.

In an interview with Digital Spy, Cardle admitted that he’d love to see his pal back on british TV and explained:

“I’d like to see Dannii back on the TV.

“I know she’s not doing it, but it would’ve been nice, as long as it’s right for her and it’s something that she wanted to do.”

It was recently reported that ITV bosses had offered the spot to Dannii, but after leaving them hanging for weeks, she is said to have turned down the deal, because she was so upset with Simon Cowell and because they wouldn’t agree to a £5 million pay packet.

Meanwhile, when matt left the X Factor he signed a joint record deal with SYCO and Columbia, however last week the 28 year old star revealed that he had parted ways with the latter company.

He insisted that he wasn’t dropped by label bosses, but just wanted to take his music in a new direction and have more control over his second album.

Who would you like to see replacing Kelly Rowland on the X Factor judging panel? Do you think Dannii could still make a comeback? Leave your comments below…