Dannii Minogue defends 'X Factor's Rachel

Dannii Minogue has claimed that X Factor star Rachel Hylton is being unfairly portrayed as a diva in the press.

Earlier this week, tabloid reports suggested that Hylton had fired Minogue and would work without a mentor, but the rumours were quickly denied.

Minogue has now expressed fears that the negative publicity could harm Hylton's chances of progressing further in the competition.

"She's working really, really hard this week," Minogue told the Daily Record. "I'm hating the fact that she's being portrayed as a diva because that's not the case."

"She's nervous. I don't think people really know her or understand her," she continued. "She's really, really nervous up there on stage. She looks down and she's got her family in the audience - there's so much riding on this for her."

Rumours of a rivalry between Minogue and fellow judge Cheryl Cole have also resurfaced this week after Simon Cowell claimed that they would not be going for dinner together any time soon.

Responding to his comments, the Aussie popstar explained: "I don't socialise with the other judges outside of the show so I don't know what to say to that. The show is a big media fest from start to finish, isn't it? And as a judge you get caught in the middle of this kind of reality TV."