Dannii may return to X Factor panel

Talks have begun to bring Dannii Minogue back to The X Factor judging panel.

The 40-year-old was a big hit on the show during her first stint but commitments to Australia's Got Talent caused filming problems and she quit.

Show insiders said Dannii is in the early stages of talks about returning, but reports the deal has been done to replace former Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland were wide of the mark.

Kelly is reportedly leaving because of her wage demands.

Dannii, a mother-of-one, was recently revealed as having had a fling with X Factor boss Simon Cowell.

A biography of the TV and music impresario by Tom Bower told how Cowell had a big crush on her.

This week Cowell apologised to anyone who might have been embarrassed by the book, Sweet Revenge.

He said: "I want to publicly apologise to anybody I embarrassed because I have tried to keep my private life quiet a bit and I do have to apologise to certain people and certain members of my family. That's the score."

Dannii, sister of pop princess Kylie, was popular with viewers and ITV executives are hoping her potential return would be a shot in the arm for the channel as it battles the Saturday night ratings war with the BBC's The Voice.

An X Factor spokeswoman said: "We will be announcing the judging panel in due course."