Irish pop svengali LOUIS WALSH predicts SHARON OSBOURNE will return to British reality TV show The X-Factor - because DANNII MINOGUE is set for the axe.

Rock matriarch Osbourne quit the show earlier this year following a series of rows with co-hosts Simon Cowell and Dannii Minogue.

But Walsh believes she will make a comeback alongside himself, Cowell and new recruit Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole - as a replacement for former singer Dannii.

He says, "Obviously Dannii would be the one to go - having Sharon and Cheryl Cole on the show together is too good an opportunity to miss."