Sharon Osbourne facing 'X Factor' axe?

Sharon Osbourne is close to being axed from the next series of The X Factor, according to the News of the World today.

Osbourne's future on the show is uncertain after a furious row with the show's creator, Simon Cowell, and a verbal attack on the competition's winner, Steve Brookstein, during last week's final.

Although ITV bosses want Sharon to return, the final decision rests with Cowell.

An ITV source told the newspaper, "It's Simon's show and he gets what he wants. He wasn't happy at all with Sharon's behaviour last week. There's no way he wants a loose cannon like that associated with his show.

"Simon told them it was a complete nightmare, but they pleaded with him to reconsider or at least hold off until the new year. So a decision will be made in the next few weeks but it doesn't look good."

Simon said, "I can confirm that we did receive a record number of complaints about Sharon and as a result her future on X Factor is undecided."

The newspaper also claims that, for the second series, Cowell is planning to invite a guest judge onto the show each week, in the style of American Idol.