Dannii Minogue has been given a substantial pay rise for another year on ITV’s X Factor, Simon Cowell confirmed.

“Dannii will get a pay rise this time,” Cowell told The Mirror. “They usually do after the second series - plus she deserves it.”

Cowell also revealed that Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne have both been offered their jobs back, though he admits he has not spoken to Sharon about recent rumours that she is not coming back.

“Sharon is a handful, but she’s what makes the show interesting,” he explained. “If someone doesn’t want to come back then that’s their decision. I’m not going to get into this whole firing thing again after last time.”

He continued:

“Backstage was the real show - my God, yes.

“If they had cameras down there it would be, without doubt, the best show on TV.

“If they both return next series they will have dressing rooms at opposite ends of the corridor and I am buffering them in the middle. But if a fight broke out who knows who would win? I wouldn’t like to guess!”