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FEISTY Sharon Osbourne had X Factor bosses sweating last night as she held out for a massive £500,000 pay rise.

Sharon, 55, is demanding a £2million contract to return to ITV1’s flagship show.

The other judges – Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue – have all signed up for the new series. But Sharon – currently on a £1.5 million deal – is still in negotiations with less than a month to go before filming is due to start.

The Sun exclusively revealed how Sharon, Louis and Dannii asked for a pay rise when a new Sunday night results show was added.

Louis is on £800,000 and Dannii £500,000, while X Factor guru Simon works under a £20million exclusive contract with ITV.

An X Factor source said: “We need Sharon – and she knows it. She will return, but she’s holding out for more cash.

“Let’s face it, the show was all about Sharon and Dannii last year.

“They provided all the controversy and Sharon’s very canny. She’s not at war with Cowell, she’s just holding out for more money.” Sharon sensationally walked off the talent show live on air last year after a row with Dannii.


She then stoked the row by saying: “Dannii knows she’s there because of her looks, not her contribution to the music industry.”

Sharon has since been working as a judge on America’s Got Talent. The X Factor returns to TV screens in September.

An X Factor spokeswoman said: “We never discuss contracts. As far as we are concerned all four judges are returning.”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...cle1157877.ece