Sharon Osbourne In "Pole Position" To Replace Tulisa On The X Factor UK This Year?

19 March 2013, 10:09 | Updated: 19 March 2013, 10:59

The 'Young' singer is rumoured to be facing the axe in favour of former panelist Sharon Osbourne.

Sharon Osbourne is reportedly in "pole position" to replace Tulisa Contostavlos as a judge The X Factor UK.

The Osbourne matriarch is rumoured to be returning to the show six years after she first left the panel, where she originally served as a judge between 2004 and 2007.

Recent reports have suggested Tulisa is set to leave the show after two years on the panel, and allegedly The X Factor boss Simon Cowell is keen for Sharon to make her return on this year's series.

"Simon is a huge fan of Sharon," a source told The Sun this week. "Things are looking good for her.

"She's in pole position," the source revealed. 

The report goes on to say that Simon is "not looking at anyone else" after Spice Girls singer Mel B ruled herself out of the running.

Sharon was well known during her last run on The X Factor UK for her widely publicised fall out with then fellow judge Dannii Minogue, who has also since left the UK show.

Check out a picture of 'Young' singer Tulisa out on tour across the UK with Ne-Yo below (Credit: PA):

Earlier this week Tulisa herself spoke out about rumours of her departure from the ITV show, insisting that the rumours are false and that no such decision has been made.

The X Factor UK has yet to announce whether Tulisa or her fellow panelists Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger will be back for the 2013 series of the show.