Sharon Osbourne is set for a £1 million 'X Factor' payday - just for taking part in the live shows.
Sharon Osbourne
The 65-year-old star has thrashed out a new deal to remain as a judge on the programme and looks set to receive the same seven-figure sum as she did last year, but she will not have to be on the panel for the lengthy initial auditions part of the programme.
A source said: "Sharon has managed to negotiate herself a plum deal.
"She's doing the easiest part of the work for exactly the same price as last year."
Sharon used to travel back and forth between her Los Angeles home and the UK for the initial audition stages - which take place in various cities across Britain - but she won't have to rack up quite so many air miles thanks to her new contract.
The source added to The Sun newspaper: "Long gone are the days where she has to travel between Los Angeles and the UK constantly for months.
"She'll have to be in London for just the live shows now."
Some reports recently claimed that show boss and panellist Simon Cowell might let Sharon and fellow judge Louis Walsh go from the programme, but the pair are expected to remain for the new series because it would cost a reported £4 million to pay up their contracts.
A source said: "Louis and Sharon have to stay. Both made it clear they were going nowhere and they would fight for their jobs.
"Not only would the cost to get rid of them run into several million, so would the stars who would take over. It is just not a feasible option, they will be back alongside Simon.
"But the big issue here is that it means Simon can't go young again, he can't get a team of young talent in to appeal to a new audience.
"Instead, he will have to stick with what he has got - and accept that his loyal audience is much older than he had believed."
However, Nicole Scherzinger - who completed last year's panel alongside Simon, Sharon and Louis - isn't expected to return for the upcoming series.
Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue, 'Britain's Got Talent' judge Alesha Dixon, and former 'X Factor' panellist Cheryl have all been linked with to role.
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