As with many a pop icon with extra time on their hands, Janet Jackson is rumoured to be taking a desk job on the US version of X Factor. Asked on a chatshow whether she might be interested in the plum job, Janet gave a weak denial which hinted that she had been already been in talks with the show bosses. 'I'm not a judge on the X Factor, and that's all I'm allowed to say,' she quipped. That's a yes then.

US X Factor hasn't been the straightforward cash-cow Simon Cowell might have envisaged. Cheryl Cole was fired after only a couple of episodes and now both Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul have been given the heave-ho after ratings failed to hit the high notes.

Nicole's departure is understandable: she's new to Simon Cowell's televisual empire. But Paula Abdul worked together on American Idol - they have judging panel history. Simon said of Paula's departure, 'She (Paula) was fine. I called her that night. She was very gracious and I said that to her. She understands it's business. It's never personal. I would have liked to have kept her.'

Something tells us that cutting Janet loose might not be so pleasant...