Dannii upset about 'X Factor' tension

Dannii Minogue has admitted that she has been forced to "toughen up" following clashes with her fellow X Factor judges.

The Australian pop star claimed that the treatment she has received from Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh has "almost become bullying".

Dannii and Sharon have not been seen to argue on-screen. However, tension between Dannii and Louis spilled over on to last week's show when Walsh mocked her pop career by claiming that she had never had a hit record.

"It's tough being the new girl," Dannii told The Sun. "The hardest thing is, I really admire them. I've looked up to them for years and I wanted to be part of that gang. But when they're slating you, you think, 'Please don't, I really like you.'

"I've certainly had to toughen up. I've had my ups and downs with Sharon and expected that. And Louis, who's had a rough year after being kicked off the show then coming back, is thinking, 'Who is this young chick? What does she know?'

"But to even go there with the arguments is giving power to them, so I ignore it. They may rubbish my experience and, OK, I've never had a No1 - but I came damn close with a No2 ['I Begin To Wonder' in 2003].

"I only got beaten by Christina Aguilera's 'Beautiful', which is an incredible song. I can't be bothered to retaliate, though. It's catty, it's almost become bullying to me, and I don't want to entertain that."