GEORGE MICHAEL TO BE X FACTOR JUDGE?

The Sun newspaper has reported that troubled pop star George Michael has been signed by Simon Cowell to be a judge on the American series of X Factor.

The US version of the hit British talent search show is set to debut next year and, according to the newspaper, will also see singer Cheryl Cole and Cowell himself joining the judging panel.

It’s rumoured that Michael has been offered a contract worth more than 1 million pounds. The move could help revitalise the singer’s image and career after he recently spent four weeks in jail.

In September he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana and prescription drugs which led him to crash into a photographic shop in July. It was just one of a number of run-ins with the law in recent years because of other similar incidents.

The Sun claims that Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger and Noel Gallagher from Oasis are also being courted as judges for the show.