Britney Spears close to sign for the X Factor

After weeks of speculation, the pop star is close to signing on for the second season of Cowell's The X Factor on Fox, according to published reports. A spokeswoman for Cowell declined to comment, as did a Fox representative. But Deadline.com says that Spears has been offered $10 million (Dh36.6 million) for the gig, which would put her just under the $12 million that Jennifer Lopez is making at the rival American Idol. Cowell sacked judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul after the first season of X Factor produced lower-than-expected ratings last fall. As a recording artist who has sold more than 100 million records — as well as a longtime tabloid fixture — Spears could give the programme an instant PR boost. Meanwhile, there are signs that viewers are growing tired of Idol. This season, ratings for The Voice have pulled even with the Fox show, which has aired every year since 2002.