According to show insiders, Tulia has lost her place on the X Factor judging panel.

The move follows what TV bosses saw as a disappointing performance from her on the 2012 series, despite the fact that she debuted the previous year by winning with band Little Mix.

The Sun newspaper claims that Tulisa had dinner with X Factor's executive producer Richard Holloway earlier this week and that is when it was revealed to her that she wouldn’t be returning this series.

A source told The Sun: "To say Tulisa is gutted is an understatement. She’s a bit embarrassed to be on the scrapheap when she delivered with Little Mix.

"She’s thrown away one of the most high-profile jobs in the industry as well as one of the best paid. But she simply wasn’t up to scratch last year and Simon Cowell had no real option."

Rumours have been flying around as to who will make up the new judging panel for the 2013 series with names such as Mel B and Sharon Osbourne being thrown around.

Bookie’s favourite to replace Tulisa is Robbie Williams though it is uncertain whether he will be joining the show.

Williams said in an interview: "It would be great if Gary was on it and I was on it. The audition dates run through my tour, so I just don’t know if I can do it."

Another source had previously told The Sun: "This is the dream team. We have been looking at the show and thinking the unthinkable.

"Robbie is exactly the right person for the show - but we don't want to lose Gary to get him. We want them both. Robbie's people are saying he is too busy to do the show.

"But we worked around Gary when he first joined the panel and he was touring with Take That and it was fine. We know Robbie loves the show and he and Gary have a great friendship and rivalry - there will be fireworks for sure."

{jcomments on}