[Spike]

Sharon Osbourne has demanded a higher salary for the next series of X Factor.

After hitting the headlines for her controversial behaviour at the Brits, the outspoken judge has told Simon Cowell that she will only return to the talent show if he makes it worth her while.

Cowell had hoped that he could get Sharon back for a lower price as a result of her disappointing performance on last year's series. Osbourne admitted that she was a "terrible mentor" after all of her acts had been eliminated by week five of the competition. She was also criticised for storming off the programme and clashing with fellow judge Dannii Minogue.

However, Osbourne now believes that she is in a position to negotiate a pay rise after hosting Wednesday night's Brit Awards.

"Until the Brits, Simon thought he had the upper hand and could dictate terms to Sharon. He wanted her back but he thought she needed the show more than it needed her," a source told the Daily Star Sunday. "Now Sharon has other ideas. It has become an almighty battle of wills.

"Both Simon and Sharon are digging their heels in and, at the moment, it's difficult to see which way it's going to go."

Osbourne was recently overheard claiming that she wanted to quit the show.

DS