Britney Spears out of X Factor – source

Britney Spears. Picture: Alex Grimm/Reuters

Los Angeles – Britney Spears is out of The X Factor after a season in which the pop star failed to deliver a ratings boost for the singing contest, a person familiar with the show’s plans has said.

Creator Simon Cowell and fellow producers are discussing replacements for Spears and another panellist, record producer Antonio LA Reid, said the person, who lacked authority to comment publicly and insisted on anonymity.

Reid previously announced he was leaving after two seasons. Demi Lovato appears likely to return, joining Cowell on the revamped panel. The show is due to return later this year.

Fox declined comment. Jeff Raymond, a publicist for Spears, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment yesterday.

The departures are yet another shake-up for The X Factor, Cowell’s attempt to strike magic with a US version of his successful UK series.

Cowell replaced panellists Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones after a disappointing first season, and ratings dropped in the second season.

The December season finale drew 9.7 million viewers, compared to more than 12 million for the first year’s season-ender.

Although the series has failed to match Cowell’s bold pre-debut predictions, and certainly hasn’t eclipsed sister Fox show American Idol, it’s helped shore up the network’s schedule.

Pop star Spears, however, proved less than a one-season wonder.

Combining fame and a history of erratic behaviour, she was seen as a potential spark for better ratings.

But reviewers faulted her for appearing inexpressive to the point of boredom and for a repetitively dull use of the word “awesome.”

On Tuesday, Fox network chief Kevin Reilly defended Spears, saying she was doing “a really good job” during a Q&A with the Television Critics Association.

“She came on, people remain fascinated with her and always will be,” he said.

“Maybe some people were waiting for more drastic displays of some nature that never came, so for those expecting that, it didn’t happen.”

Asked whether Fox would be on board to bring Spears back, Reilly replied “yeah” – this despite the fact producers have been talking since Christmas about substitutes for her and Reid.

Mario Lopez and Khloe Kardashian joined the show as co-hosts this season.

- Sapa-AP