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Simon Cowell wooing Sharon Osbourne for Australian X Factor

Feb 25, 2013, 7:01 GMT

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell is desperate for Sharon Osbourne to replace Mel B on the Australian version of 'The X Factor'.

The music mogul is keen for Sharon - who he worked with on the judging panel of the UK version of the show for four series - to be the star judge on the TV talent programme after former Spice Girls star Mel replaced her on 'America's Got Talent'.

A source told MailOnline: 'Simon is really keen for Sharon to go to Australia and be a judge over there.

'Simon knows that Sharon can be TV dynamite, and while the UK doesn't look like it will happen, Simon is set on the idea of Sharon going to Australia - she's part of his gang.'

Sharon, 60, quit 'America's Got Talent' in July following the way NBC executives had treated her son Jack after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

She claimed Jack had been axed from an upcoming NBC show called 'Stars Earn Stripes' because of his illness.

She said: 'I just can't be fake. It's discrimination, and it was badly handled.'

Last week, it was revealed Mel would be joining Howard Stern and Howie Mandel on 'America's Got Talent' after impressing with her stint as a judge on Australia's 'X Factor' as well as when she was a stand-in mentor on the UK version.

A source said: ''Simon loves trying people out on his shows, Mel's already been a judge on 'X Factor Australia' and it's too far for her to keep taking the kids.

'She did want to do 'X Factor UK', but Simon really wanted her to do 'America's Got Talent'.