Kelly Rowland could pocket bumper X Factor payday

Kelly Rowland could pocket bumper X Factor payday
Kelly Rowland could pocket bumper X Factor payday (Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

X Factor judge Kelly Rowland could find herself getting a pay rise if she returns for the next series of the show, according to The Sun. The paper reports that the former Destiny's Child singer is looking for her £500,000 salary to be tripled for the next series, following the news that Gary Barlow's pay for the show has been risen to £2m. However there is also speculation that show bosses could withdraw their offer for her to return to the show and simply axe her from the panel instead. "Kelly wants the gig but she's a big star and should be paid accordingly," a source told the paper. "She was a popular judge last year - the producers and Simon have said as such. Simon has even said he wants her back on several occasions. If they want to make her a serious offer then they will have to do just that." However producers Thames TV and Syco said no firm offer had been made to the singer and they would not be forced into offering her a "truckload of money". "Yes, we would love to see Kelly back as she was good and people liked her," an insider admitted. "But we are never held to ransom over these things. Whatever we pay is a good salary and something they would struggle to get on any other TV show." Auditions for the new series are due to begin in Cardiff next month.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.