Minogue quits X Factor, but who will replace her?

The reality TV show judging merry-go-round continues to spin at a dizzying pace, with a furious Dannii Minogue apparently the latest star to be jettisoned by The X Factor.

Minogue, who mentored Matt Cardle to victory last year, has reportedly left the UK version of the show after a row about audition dates and filming schedules. The 39-year-old was apparently unhappy that the producers were not prepared to set up a timetable that suited her commitments as a mother and also as a judge on Australia's Got Talent in her homeland.

The drama, that has had the tabloid press and even some broadsheets agog, is the latest in a series of Byzantine plot twists to affect the stable of talent shows involving the high-trousered priest of zeitgeist, Simon Cowell.

The regularity and timing of the dramas has prompted speculation that they are as genuine as the so-called feuds between the judges once the shows begin, and that they are being manipulated to drum up interest in the new season.

Already this year the world has held its breath over the saga of whether Cheryl Cole would become a judge on the newly-launched American version of The X Factor alongside Cowell. The Girls Aloud singer was eventually confirmed as a member of the panel days before filming started, despite well-documented fears that her Geordie accent would be impenetrable to American ears.

In order to find time for his US X Factor commitments Cowell himself has had to abandon the other programme in which he passed judgement on wannabe stars, Britain's Got Talent. He was replaced by Baywatch star David Hasselhoff. Sharon Osborne has also been replaced in this year's show by Michael McIntyre, and Amanda Holden now rules the roost.

Cowell will be absent from this year's X Factor in the UK, prompting some to predict its demise, although he remains executive producer and will no doubt make an appearance. His place on the judging panel will be taken by Gary Barlow of Take That fame.

It is Barlow's presence that has, in part, led to Minogue's exit. She is said to be annoyed that producers had drawn up a filming schedule that allowed him to tour with his band, but which forced her to shuttle between Britain and Australia at inconvenient times.

Her absence means that Louis Walsh is likely to be the only surviving judge from last year. He and Barlow are expected to be joined by 22-year-old Tulisa Contostavlos from the urban music band N-Dubz. She is expected to confirm her ticket on the lucrative talent show gravy train this week.

That leaves one place on the four-person panel open. The most obvious candidate to fill it would appear to be Alesha Dixon. She is already a judge on the BBC's reality show rival Strictly Come Dancing, but was last week reported to have said how much she admired The X Factor and how she would like to be able to 'mentor' the contestants.

She would also be a safe pair of hands alongside the veteran Walsh and two untried judges. Even better, a high-profile defection from the Beeb would also be manna from heaven for the media. Expect the rumours to begin swirling soon. ·