Sharon Osbourne is set for a £2m payday for returning to the X Factor judging panel this summer, despite reports that she is halving her workload to appear in just the live shows.
A representative for the 65-year-old told MailOnline that her hefty return fee came after bosses reportedly refused to pay an even larger figure for terminating her contract.
This comes amid reports that the star will be halving her workload on the show to appear in just the live shows, as Simon Cowell looks to shake-up the show in a bid to boost fledgling ratings.
Rolling in the dough: Sharon Osbourne is reportedly set for a £2 million payday after halving her workload to appear in just The X Factor live shows
The 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.
‘She’ll have to be in London for just the live shows now.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for The X Factor for further comment.
Shake-up: A source also told The Sun that Sharon decided to reduce her time on the panel after being left exhausted by constantly flying from London to Los Angeles
Sharon also reportedly decided to halve the workload after being left exhausted by constantly flying from London to Los Angeles, where she appears as a panellist on daytime show The Talk.
Reports had circulated that Sharon and Louis Walsh were set to be axed from the panel ahead of this year’s series, but will now be sticking around after ITV refused to payout for terminating their contracts early.
Meanwhile Nicole Scherzinger was also reportedly axed from the panel in April, as part of Simon’s drastic shake-up after the 2017 series – which saw group Rak-Su crowned winners – had its lowest-rated final to date.
Hot topic: Simon Cowell has reportedly been looking to shake up The X Factor panel ahead of this year’s series, in a bid to boost fledgling ratings
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘Nicole was a passionate judge but has no contract and won’t be back this year in order to bring in fresh blood.’
Meanwhile an X Factor spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘There is always speculation regarding the judging panel. It’s too early to confirm the judges for the next series.’
Since Nicole’s rumoured axe there have been many names thrown into discussion concerning the vacancy on the judging panel, including One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Britain’s Got Talent star Alesha Dixon and previous panel star Rita Ora.
Transformed: Reports have already circulated stating that Nicole Scherzinger has been axed from the panel