Sharon Osbourne is reported to be in pole position to replace Tulisa Contostavlos on The X Factor judging panel.
Sharon and Mel B were both rumoured to be vying to replace the N-Dubz star on Simon Cowell's UK singing talent show, but the Spice Girl has now taken herself out of the running.
Mel B - who was a guest judge last year - has signed up to join Dawn French on Australia's Got Talent, meaning she will be too busy to do The X Factor.
A source told The Sun that Simon is a 'huge fan' of 60-year-old Sharon and he is 'not looking at anyone else' to fill the space on the UK show with Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh.
Bookmaker William Hill has Sharon at 1/4 on to return to the panel, while Tulisa is now a 12/1 outsider.
Sharon was a full-time judge on the show until six years ago.
But earlier this month Tulisa, 24, denied she had been axed. She said: "I still don't know yet, as like every year I don't find out until the month before. I've spoken to Simon via text messages, just general conversation, not about the show."
Meanwhile, Dannii Minogue, 41, was confirmed by Simon to have joined the new Australian X Factor panel.
