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X Factor's executive producer Richard Holloway has claimed that Sharon Osbourne's salary demands were "unreasonable".

Osbourne quit her role as a judge on the ITV1 talent series in June, just days before auditions for the fifth series were due to begin. It was subsequently claimed that she did so after her request for £1 million extra to continue with the programme was turned down.

"Sharon didn't want to do the next series. We wanted her to stay on, without question, but it was totally and utterly her choice," Holloway told The Guardian.

"Pay was part of the situation. ITV wouldn't cough up what she was demanding. I think her demands were unreasonable. From a financial point of view, it was absolutely right to say that there was no more money."

Holloway also hinted that he does not expect last year's winner Leon Jackson to match the success of Leona Lewis, who has become an international star since winning the 2006 series.

"It'll be interesting to see how he does. It's been quite quiet for him," he admitted. "He had a huge hit with the first single after the final last year but I don't think it's reasonable to expect to find a Leona every year. That's too big an ask."

The X Factor returns for its fifth series on ITV1 on Saturday.

DS