[Locke.]

JUST when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for X Factor, Gary Barlow has delivered another gut-wrenching body blow.

This year’s series has seen a cocaine scandal, race row, an electrical blackout on live TV plus, of course, the obligatory autotune rumpus.

And now, to add insult to injury, new judge Gary has dropped his biggest hint yet that he WON’T be coming back for next year’s series.

He said: “I’m taking some time off next year to remind myself who my children are and what their names are.”

Daniel, 11, Emily, nine, and Daisy, two, Gary, in case you really HAD forgotten...

“Next year doesn’t even feel like it’s approaching,” he added.

The Take That star was speaking at last night’s Children In Need Rocks Manchester gig, which he organised. “It’s been nice to concentrate on something other than X Factor,” he said. “We’re in a bubble down there. It’s been good to leave London. We get tied up with our own importance.”

The concert featured his new buddies Kelly Rowland and Tulisa, as well as Lady Gaga, Jessie J, JLS and Coldplay.

“I contacted everyone myself,” says Gary, 40. “I usually start with an email, then call them. It’s important to do that, rather than get a call from some researcher.”

However, Cheryl Cole was forced to pull out of a duet with Gary after she was struck down with pharyngitis.

Gary, who sung Back for Good on his lonesome, told me: “I didn’t want to replace her because it was going to be such a nice moment for her tonight. She’s gutted. Who knows, we might be able to do a duet another time.”

On next year’s X Factor maybe?

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