Sharon Osbourne X Factor deal signed?

After months of speculation it was reported this morning that Sharon Osbourne has signed a new deal to return to the X Factor.

The Sun newspaper claims that Osbourne has signed a deal purported to be worth around £1.5 million. If she rejoins the ITV singing contest she is likely to replace Tulisa Contostavlos as Simon Cowell looks to shake-up the show following a decline in ratings.

Sharon was one of the original judges on the X Factor back in 2004 along with Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh but quit the show following the 2007 finale after falling out with new addition to the panel Dannii Minogue.

Despite quitting, she has continued to appear on the show, most recently last year supporting Louis Walsh during the Judges’ Houses round.

X Factor bosses are looking to spice the show up after it was beaten by its BBC One rival Strictly Come Dancing last year, the first time in many years. Cowell confirmed that he would not be returning this year as a judge, but there is speculation he will appear in some form through a video link.

Cowell quit the UK version in 2011 to launch the X Factor in America. He initially dropped out of Britain’s Got Talent, his other ITV reality show, but returned full time after the show struggled in the ratings without him as a judge.

Open auditions for The X Factor have already begun across the country with the show expected to return to our screens in August.

[Written by Shaun Linden  @lindenshaun]