Cowell wanted to keep Dannii: Clifford

Simon Cowell wanted to keep Dannii Minogue on as a judge on 'The X Factor'.


According to PR guru Max Clifford, the music mogul was keen to make sure the Australian pop star - who quit due to scheduling clashes with the auditions on 'Australia's Got Talent' - returned to the show after winning with artist Matt Cardle last year, because he knew how popular she was with the audience.

Speaking on ITV1 show 'This Morning', Max said: "He definitely wanted to keep her in because she was very popular and has worked very well.

"But in the last few months, because of the American 'X Factor', this 'X Factor' has had an awful lot of juggling going on and it's a question of getting the best possible combination.

"Don't forget it's the most popular show on television and the fact that when you're changing judges it makes front page and national newspapers, gives you some idea of how popular it is."

However, Clifford thinks Cowell - who has quit the UK show to focus on US 'X Factor' with Cheryl Cole, Paula Abdul and L.A. Reid - knows what he is doing, as he has faced criticism in the past for his judging choices.

He said: "A lot of critics are saying that the show won't be as popular and it won't work but they also said that when Sharon Osbourne went and Cheryl came in. They said that was a ridiculous choice."

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