London: All four judges of ‘X-Factor’ are seeking seven-figure deals, pushing the show over budget.
‘X Factor’ bosses are on a collision course with ITV - as the planned wage bill for the new judges tops 6 million pounds, reports thesun.co.uk.
Sharon Osbourne, set to return after six years, is on course for between 1.5 million and 2 million pounds. Gary Barlow is looking to boost his 1.5 million pounds after agreeing to come back following talks with Simon Cowell.
Nicole Scherzinger is holding out for a similar deal to Gary`s, plus benefits, including flying her own stylist and make-up team over from the US.
Louis Walsh, who has a 1 million pounds deal, has been told he will be back.
Last year`s panel - who often tell singers: "You made that song your own" - cost a lot less. Tulisa Contostavlos earned a reported 450,000 pounds, while Nicole got 750,000 pounds.
A source said ITV does not want to raise the 33 million pounds-a-series budget, agreed three years ago.
Tense talks between show chief Richard Holloway and ITV boss Peter Fincham are set to take place tomorrow.
Holloway, who runs production company Thames TV, is keen to sign up the judges as soon as possible so audition planning can begin for June.
An insider said: "Producers know it will cost significantly more than last year. If there`s a hold-up, it could mean someone is not given a judging role and its back to the drawing board."
Other names have been mentioned as candidates but none followed up.
A production source said: "We know returning judges cost more. It`s what happens if you negotiate every series."
A ‘X Factor’ spokesman said: "No formal decisions have been taken."
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.