Lionel Richie to be X Factor judge?

Lionel Richie is being lined up to be a judge on 'The X Factor'.

The 'Hello' singer is in the frame to join the judging panel of the ITV1 talent show as boss Simon Cowell is keen to get the final line-up sorted, following all the recent speculation.

It is thought Simon and Cheryl Cole won't return to the show as they will both be involved with the US version and while Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh have been told to keep their diaries free, nobody has received contracts.

Simon is set to meet ITV1 bosses today (01.04.11) to decided on the four judges, with Nicole Scherzinger, Lily Allen, Michael Buble and Gary Barlow also in the frame.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "It has reached crunch time as we need to start announcing UK judges. Simon is coming in to talk. We're confident we'll have it wrapped up by next week."

Bosses are keen for Simon to play some part in the UK version of the show and have reportedly asked if he would agree to judge the programme's live stages via satellite link.

However, a source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "There's less than a 50 per cent chance he'll agree. It's looking more as though he won't be heavily involved. It's frustrating for them but Simon can't clone himself to be in two places at once."