Simon Cowell is allegedly on the brink of axing Mel B from The X Factor in a bid to shake up the show after it failed to pull in viewers last series.
Cowell, 55, is trying to revamp the ITV show in order to compete with BBC One rival, Strictly Come Dancing.
The former Spice Girl - who was forced to miss the first night of the final weekend of live shows last series due to a mystery illness - proved popular among viewers because of her straight talking approach.
According to the Daily Mirror a show source said: “It is now looking very, very doubtful she will come back, Simon has made up his mind.
X Factor
“She is doing America’s Got Talent at the moment so she hasn’t completely fallen out with Simon, but he wants to freshen up X Factor."
The source continued: “One of the best ways to do that is to change the judging panel and it looks like Mel B will pay the price for that.
“Some fans will be disappointed though as some viewers felt she was the best thing about the show last year.”
It is likely that Cheryl Fernandez-Versini will take her place on the judging panel this year, but it is not clear if Louis Walsh will be returning.
The news follows that of Dermot O'Leary, who after eight years of presenting the show, announced that he is handing over the duties to former Xtra Factor hosts Olly Murs and Caroline Flack.
