Sharon Osbourne: Elton John’s dirty texts get me through X Factor auditions

Returning X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne has revealed that her filthy sense of humour – and explicit texts from Sir Elton John – have helped her beat boredom during the audition rounds.

In a format shake up, the four judges are now subjected to singing hopefuls’ auditions twice – once in a private room and again in front of a live audience.

‘I tell Louis dirty jokes,’ the 60-year-old music manager laughed when asked how she avoids drifting off during the hours of auditions.

‘And sending me dirty notes,’ Louis confirmed, adding: ‘Elton John tells her all the dirty jokes.’

‘No he sends me all the filthy pictures,’ Shaz corrected her co-judge.

Having rejoined the show after a six season absence, Sharon is thrilled to be back on The X Factor judging panel. And unlike her famous rivalry with former co-judge Dannii Minogue, Sharon will not be sharpening her talons for current panel babe Nicole Scherzinger.

‘It is not going to happen because if anyone had done their homework they would know she was my guest at judges’ homes [in series 4]. We have been friends for years,’ she said.

And when it comes to a style off, Sharon will not be wearing any plunging necklines, saying: ‘The queen doesn’t have to do that,’ and added that a fashion clash with Nicole would never happen, saying: ‘Please. All my stuff is one-of-a-kind couture.’

Looking ahead to the live shows, Sharon also revealed she is desperate to avoid the groups in this years’ competition, saying: ‘I couldn’t have the groups. I couldn’t remember any f**ker’s name. I get confused. And who are you? Really,’ she laughed.

‘Five and six people in a band, who can deal with that? One person’s name is enough.’

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures 17 July 2013]

Louis Walsh: I tell Tulisa to behave but she doesn’t listen

Louis Walsh has revealed he has given axed X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos a shoulder to cry on after her alleged drugs bust.

The pair struck up an unlikely friendship during the two years they sat together on the famous panel, with the 60-year-old Irishman still keeping in contact with the troubled N Dubz star, 25.

‘She is a nice kid. She got bad press, but she is a good kid,’ he said, defending the singer after her recent drugs bust ordeal.

‘I texted her last night, I told her to behave cos I saw those pictures of her on the beach.

‘But she won’t listen,’ he went on, making reference to Tulisa’s birthday celebrations in Ibiza.

Louis also went on to say he feels sad that she never got to work with his returning co-judge Sharon Osbourne as he things she would have been a positive influence.

‘I think she is a really nice girl. I like her an awful lot and the one woman who could have tamed Tulisa is sitting beside me now.’

As the longest running member of The X Factor panel, Louis – who has held a chair on all ten series of the show – is keen to get back on screens this autumn as he watches the new hopefuls.

‘It is my jubilee,’ he said, jubilantly, adding: ‘I love doing it, it is the best job in the world when you are on it.’

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures 17 July 2013]

Sharon Osbourne: I used sex factor to get back judges seat

Sharon Osbourne has joked that she had to get down on both knees to win back her X Factor job off Simon Cowell.

The 60-year-old reality star told Guilty Pleasures it was the best way to heal her rift with the TV boss after she said he had ‘small-penis syndrome’ last year.

‘I said “if I suck your d*** can I get the job?” And he said “of course”,’ she cackled.

‘It was very simple, very simple. There we are.’

Shaz was keen to set the record straight on her fall out with the 53-year-old X Factor boss.

‘I only said that because he said he didn’t like working with me in his book so I thought I would say something mean,’ she said, referencing his unauthorised book Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell.

‘That is how we are like in our relationship, we have underlying respect but if he says something mean then I will go “take that”. Doesn’t everyone dread that being said about them?’

However she went on to say she doesn’t care for Cowell’s appendage in reality.

‘I don’t care what size his d*** is. I should give a s***. The thing is I knew how to get him and he knew how to get me,’ she laughed.

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures 17 July 2013]

Nicole Scherzinger: I’m lonely and single after Lewis Hamilton split

Lonely singleton Nicole Scherzinger has revealed she is struggling to adjust to life after splitting with long-term lover Lewis Hamilton.

The Don’t Hold Your Breath singer, 35, has revealed she is glad to have The X Factor and her music to distract her from her heartache.

She told Metro: ‘Fortunately I love the people here and they give me so much love back, because I don’t have anyone here, I don’t have my family, I don’t even have any friends here. My publicist is my closest friend.’

Nicole is looking forward to catching up with her former protégé Rylan, who will also be able to help heal her pain after splitting with Lewis, 28, last month.

‘He’s my new date!’ the former Pussycat Doll laughed, adding: ‘I talked to him last night and we’re trying to figure out when we can go out for dinner. And he’s so busy every night. I’m so happy for him.’

Nicole is also thrilled to have Sharon Osbourne on the X Factor panel, saying ‘She has brought out the worst in all of us in the best way.’

But if fans expect fireworks to fly between the two powerful women, they are going to be disappointed as the two get on famously.

‘I love Sharon. She brought me on to The X Factor. I was her mentor at her house in Beverley hills many years ago,’ she said, recalling series four of the show.

‘She just kind of took me under her wing and she is really lovely as a woman. It’s really nice to see other women in the industry who are kind and give empowerment to others. That’s rare.’

Nicole went on to explain the value of having another woman on her side, saying: ‘Girls, we’re catty and there’s insecurity but she’s a special breed, she’s just awesome. She’s just outrageous and fun and a riot.’

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures 16 July 2013]

Gary Barlow: I’m afraid of repeat BGT egg attack on The X Factor

Gary Barlow has revealed that he is quivering in fear that he’ll be egged like Simon Cowell at the X Factor judges’ desk.

The 42-year-old Take That star is on red alert after Si was splatted on Britain’s Got Talent.

‘It’s a worry that, isn’t it? I mean I know she was only throwing eggs, and that’s fine,’ Gaz told Metro of BGT wannabe Natalie Holt’s attack on Cowell.

‘I’ve never had eggs thrown at me [when performing with Take That],’ he went on, with co-judge Nicole Scherzinger joking he is more likely to have knickers thrown at him.

With live audience auditions taking place in the capital this week, the four judges – Gary, Nicole, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne – have all adjusted to their latest roles; with Gary gushing over the return of Mrs O to the ITV singing show.

‘She’s the queen. She’s back. It’s so good to have someone who has done so much TV work because she is totally at ease and she has brought out the worst in all of us,’ he said.

‘The one thing I was dreading though was Sharon coming back and just stealing the whole thing and that’s not her style at all.’

However, Gaz is concerned about Si making a shock return during the tenth series of the show – as he has no clue if or when he might pop up.

‘We’re all worried about that,’ he confirmed, although he is looking forward to Cowell’s Midas touch adding: ‘I sat with him this year to talk about the show, the one thing I said was “I think the viewers want you somewhere in this show” because at the end of the day, I’m not the boss of the label in London.

‘We’d love at any point for him to be involved and show up at boot camp or judges’ houses or wherever. He’s always up for it.’

[Originally published Metro Guilty Pleasures 16 July 2013]