Lily Allen close to X Factor deal

Lily Allen is "80 per cent" confirmed to be a judge on 'The X Factor'.

The 'Not Fair' hitmaker is close to finalising a deal to take over from Cheryl Cole - who is believed to have landed a role on the new US version of the programme - as a panellist on the show, while Gary Barlow is also being targeted in case Simon Cowell decides he will concentrate solely on the American series and not return to the UK in time.

Despite reports at the weekend, sources insisted to The Sun newspaper that Louis Walsh will be returning to the programme, and though he has not yet signed a contract, that is expected to change in the next two weeks and he has been told to clear his diary for the auditions in May.

The future of current fourth judge Dannii Minogue is not as certain, with ITV bosses keen to keep her on but show supremo Simon said to be "50-50" about whether he wants her to stay.

Meanwhile, programme host Dermot O'Leary said he isn't too disappointed about failing to land the job hosting the US show.

He said: "There's two and a half million unemployed in this country - I'm not going to go around complaining I didn't get it."