Sharon Osbourne: How I was nearly fired from the X-Factor

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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Sharon Osbourne arrives at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's sixth annual benefit

After finding out her co-judge Louis Walsh and presenter Kate Thornton had been fired from the programme for the fourth series, she said she was sure she had also been given the chop when Simon Cowell rang her up.

Instead, she was offered a spot on the American version of the show, which she accepted. But she said any rumours of Louis' sacking being a "set up" are completely untrue.

She said: "Not true. It was a moment of total aberration on the part of Simon and ITV.

"I was devastated. What the **** were they thinking of, changing anything at all?"

But despite rumours of Sharon's "jealousy" over younger female co-judge, Dannii Minogue, Sharon says she likes and respects her.

"As for Dannii Minogue, she is far from the flossy airhead I thought she would be," she said.

"She might look like the mmost beautiful porcedlain doll, but she is sharp and feisty and nobody's fool. We're from a different generation, but I respect her and she brings a new dynamic to the show."

Sharon Osbourne has also admitted "egging on" hopeless contestants during the first rounds for the ITV show X-Factor.

In her second autobiography, the judge admits mocking talentless people at auditions and reveals her fears at being fired from the show for being a "loose cannon."

She said: "I never cease to be amazed at the people who genuinely think they can sing and haven't the slightest idea that they can't. Naturally, I egged them on. I just couldn't help it.

"I was asking complete no-hopers if they thought they could win. Asking them who they think they can be as big as.

"Most of them stand there as if they'd been asked to multiply 347 by 93. Rather than talent, they seem to think all they need is a good sob story to push them through."

The 54-year-old wife of rocker Ozzy Osbourne made the comments after the show was accused of mistreating "mentally ill" contestants with no idea of their own inabilities, and of treating Boot Camp finalists "appallingly".

Sharon is hitting back at a string of hurtful allegations by her brother.

But she admits her four-letter tirade against TV presenter Chris Tarrant after he took the mickey out of her husband, Ozzy, during filming for the last X-Factor finals.

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Sharon Osbourne rejoined by Louis Walsh, left, and Dannii Minogue and Simon Cowell on the right

Sharon Osbourne rejoined by Louis Walsh, left, and Dannii Minogue and Simon Cowell on the right

She said: "The sarcastic words, the grin, the red face - everything collides and it's like a nuclear explosion inside me.

"'Don't you DARE talk about my f****** family" You shut your mouth you ****!' I could feel myself shaking and blood was pounding in my ears.

"The grin on his face had disappeared and the whole place was silent. 'Listen you' I say. 'What about you, you lying piece of ****? At least my husband and I are a team. You piece of ****. Go **** yourself.'"

She was later forced to apologise to the audience for her outburst, but refused to say sorry to the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? presenter.

Meanwhile, Sharon's brother, David, continues to criticise his sister in the tabloid press.

He has told The Sun that she is driving her frail husband, Ozzy Osbourne, to destruction by working him too hard as he heads off for a 40-show tour before a possible Black Sabbath tour afterwards.

He said: "I think he's worn out. When the cameras are off he just sits there quietly.

"Sharon will keep Ozzy on the road until, like Tommy Cooper, he dies on stage. Sharon needs him to work because of her exorbitant spending."

David, 56, and Sharon, 54, became estranged this summer after a row about their father, Don's funeral.

David says his younger sister has lied about having a poverty-stricken childhood and the reasons for her falling out with their mother and father. But Sharon denies all of his allegations.

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