Simon Cowell 'bored by Cheryl and Dannii'

Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue were separated on The X Factor's judging panel because Simon Cowell found their interactions boring, a report has claimed.

Minogue was ordered to swap seats with Louis Walsh before Saturday's show, moving her away from her fellow female judge. The new seating order remained in place for the following night's episode.

A source has now told the Daily Record: "It was on Simon's say-so. He wasn't that happy with the show a week ago. He felt it was a bit boring and decided it needed shaking up a bit. So he opted to move Louis up the panel this week and Dannii down to the end.

"He just doesn't think there is enough banter and interaction between the girls - they lack chemistry. It's certainly ruffled feathers - Louis is quite relaxed about the move but Dannii was not at all happy."

Cowell was said to have raged at Cole and Minogue backstage after a recent live episode. Reports claimed that he had ordered the stars to stop treating The X Factor like a "fashion show".