Sharon Osbourne to quit X Factor as she reveals plans to retire from showbiz… and she’s taking Ozzy with her
HER brilliant one-liners and sense of humour have made SHARON OSBOURNE indispensable on The X Factor.
But sadly, even a blank pay cheque from boss SIMON COWELL won’t be able to tempt her back to the panel for much longer.
I can reveal the show’s most unpredictable star is planning a shock retirement from showbiz after a 50-year career because she fears old age will compromise her dignity on screen.
It means she will be able to put her feet up alongside rocker husband OZZY, who she has decreed must give up touring before he turns 70 next year.
She said: “I’ve given myself five years then it’s time to say goodbye from the industry.
“I just think that it would be enough, I want to keep my dignity. I’ve been working since I was 15 in this industry and I think that’s enough.
“It’s very difficult if you’re at a gig and you’re the oldest person in the room.
"I think when you get to a certain age it can be somewhat embarrassing.
“I don’t want to be one of those people standing at the side in a mini skirt pretending you love it. No — not for me. I want to go out with dignity.
“I will spend time with my family, my grandkids and my hubby.”
The move, which will be a huge loss to telly, comes after Sharon slapped Ozzy with the same working ban.
She made the decision late last year as he embarked on a solo career after quitting touring with BLACK SABBATH.
Sharon, who is also Ozzy’s manager, said at the time: “It’s not going to be within the next year, but it’s coming up.
“I don’t want Ozzy singing Crazy Train at 75. I think it’s best you go out before you hit that 70 and go out on top.”
The fiery redhead and fellow mentors NICOLE SCHERZINGER, LOUIS WALSH return with Simon for a new series of the ITV show on Saturday September 2.
She was part of the original judging line-up when the show first launched in 2004 before she quit and was replaced by CHERYL COLE in 2008. She returned for one series in 2013 before coming back permanently last year.
Auditions began just weeks after Sharon underwent painful back surgery in March.
And she will no doubt welcome more quality time with Ozzy following their near-divorce a years ago.
The couple announced their separation in May last year after Sharon learned of her husband’s four-year affair with LA hair stylist Michelle Pugh.
But the pair, parents to JACK, KELLY and AIMEE, have since mended their 35-year marriage.
Sharon admitted that she could not imagine life without the rocker, despite branding him a “dirty dog”.
At least boss Simon’s has got five years’ notice to try to find her replacement.
Read on for the rest of Dan Wootton's Bizarre Column...
Hunt for perfect Matt-ch
HE missed out on a No1 with his debut X Factor single last year.
But now show champ MATT TERRY is setting his sights on bagging The One by turning to reality TV to find true romance.
I can reveal the single star has signed up to Channel 4’s Celebrity First Dates. He will join 15 others hunting for love when the series returns this autumn.
A source said: “Matt has been single for some time now and would really like to meet someone serious – he’s definitely up for trying his luck on reality TV.
“His mates think it’s a great idea and his family are fully supporting him.”
Matt filmed scenes last Friday at central London’s Paternoster Chop House, the backdrop for the show.
The singer has worn his heart on his sleeve since his first X Factor audition last year, when in a classic sob story he told judges of his heartbreak after a recent split from his long-time love.
And despite getting close to Spanish singer ANA MENA last month during sessions for an upcoming collaboration, Matt remains, in his own words, a “hopeless single”.
He’ll follow last year’s celebs ESTHER RANTZEN, JESSICA WRIGHT, Corrie’s DANIEL BROCKLEBANK and SCARLETT MOFFATT, who all turned to the show to find love.
If Cupid’s arrow doesn’t strike this time round, Matt could always try Scarlett’s new Channel 4 venture Streetmate instead.
BIZMETER: MUSIC
- ALBUM: FRESH from her great collaboration, Instruction, with JAX JONES and her single Sorry Not Sorry, DEMI LOVATO has announced the release of her sixth studio album.
Tell Me You Love Me – the follow-up to 2015’s Confident – will be out on September 29. - COLLABORATION: KATY PERRY has insisted her feud with CALVIN HARRIS ended as soon as he asked her to appear on No1 hit Feels.
Katy, who fell out with the DJ when he pulled out of supporting her on tour in 2011, said: “We’d had some public Twitter spats. Time to put all that behind us.” - PERFORMANCE: IN one of the most unexpected collaborations of the year, DNCE have teamed up with ROD STEWART for a brand new version of his 1978 hit Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?
They will perform it at Sunday’s MTV VMAs in California. You can watch on MTV from 8pm on Monday. - SINGLE: ONE of my favourite new stars, RACHEL PLATTEN, is determined to make new song Broken Glass just as much of a hit as Fight Song was in 2015.
She said: “I have so much more than one song that I’m incredibly proud of. That’s one of a career’s worth of songs I want to release.”
Hair comes Mollie
IT won’t just be the Strictly dancefloor that MOLLIE KING will be lighting up this year.
The singer is set to make her comeback to the music scene with new single Hair Down, which I’m told is a guaranteed floor-filler.
Mollie – who also looks amazing with her hair up, as my exclusive pic shows – has teamed up with THE SATURDAYS and GIRLS ALOUD producer BRIAN HIGGINS on the pop banger which is due out on September 1.
I can’t wait to hear it.
Fergie's back with a bang
IT’S been 11 years since FERGIE dropped her solo debut The Dutchess.
But now fans have just one month to wait for her follow-up Double Dutchess.
The former BLACK EYED PEAS star has announced she will release the record on September 22.
And Fergie helped ease any further impatience by dropping two new singles overnight – Hungry featuring RICK ROSS and You Already Know featuring NICKI MINAJ.
Considerate.