Osbourne demanded £1m extra for 'X Factor'

Sharon Osbourne quit The X Factor after ITV chiefs refused to give her a £1 million pay rise, it was claimed today.

It was previously thought that Osbourne had left the show after being denied a £500,000 salary increase. However, today's Mirror suggests that this was offered to Sharon, who turned the deal down because she was hoping for double the amount to be added to her salary. Such an increase would have brought her X Factor pay packet to £2.5 million.

An insider told the newspaper: "Sharon has wanted more money every series since The X Factor started. This time, she was demanding £2.5 million. It was too much and we called her bluff.

"Talks which started three months ago broke down on Thursday night and Sharon decided she was walking away."

Scottish singer Lulu is the bookies' favourite to replace Osbourne on the new series.