Gary Barlow in 'secret' X Factor talks

Gary BarlowGary Barlow has been in ‘secret talks’ with returning to the X Factor later this year as a judge.

The Take That singer has reportedly been in ‘secret talk’s about returning as a judge for two months – before the finale of the 8th series on ITV. The Sun quotes Barlow as saying ‘I started talks two weeks before the last one finished. We are talking.’

The tabloid reports that ITV are confident that Barlow will return to the X Factor despite previous concerns that his commitments to Take That will make it difficult for him to return. The tabloid also claims that the judge has been offered a pay rise even though he was the highest paid judge on last year’s panel. ‘Gary loved being on the show and genuinely wants to be back.  While viewing figures were down a few million, the feeling is it would have been worse without Gary.’ A source tells the tabloid.

The Sun also reports that Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh are also likely to return for this year’s X Factor but once again claims that Kelly Rowland has quit. Yesterday ATV Today reported on how Rowland is said to be eying a role on the American version of the X Factor, read more on that here >>