It is widely thought that they want a younger judge and that pop sensation and former Strictly Come Dancing winner Alesha Dixon could be the woman for the job.

Her appearance on GMTV this morning failed to shed any further light on the situation when Alesha sarcastically said to presenter Andrew Castle, “Well, if it’s in the papers it must be true!”

However contracts are still to be signed but an insider says, “But bosses really want Alesha as she has everything they’re looking for."