L.A. Reid has reportedly signed up to be a judge on the second series
of US ‘X Factor’.

The music mogul is thought to have signed a contract on Friday (03.02.12) to reprise his position on the panel following the exits of fellow judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, as well as host Steve Jones.

A source told The Hollywood Reporter that the Epic Records chief was
the one judge that audiences seemed to embrace.

Beyonce Knowles and Mariah Carey have both been talked about as
possible new panelists on the Fox show, and boss Simon Cowell is
believed to have offered the ‘Single Ladies’ hitmaker $500 million for
five seasons on the programme as he aims to beat rival show ‘American
Idol’ in the ratings battle.

A source explained: “He wants a big name female star on the panel.
Mariah [Carey] is good, but she’s not that hot today. He wants Beyonce
because that would immediately give him the bounce needed to beat
‘American Idol’.”

Randy Jackson – who judges on ‘American Idol’ – believes Mariah, who
he manages, would be an “amazing” addition to US ‘X Factor’, he said, “She’d be amazing. I mean, I manage her, so of course I’m going to say that. She’d be amazing.”

We await any confirmation……

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