Sharon Osbourne is reportedly keeping it in the family when it comes to her special guests for X Factor Judges’ Houses.
The music matriarch has apparently shunned teaming up with a current chart star and instead tapped up daughter Kelly, 32, and son Jack, 31, to help her choose which hopefuls to take through to live shows.
No doubt it’s because she trusts her children’s opinions and they have experience of life in the public eye, growing up on TV in reality show The Osbournes.
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Kelly herself once dabbled in a music career, releasing a cover of Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach that was a top three hit.
But interestingly, the one member of the family with an actual musical background is the one member apparently excluded from filming.
According to The Sun, the 64-year-old will not be joined by husband Ozzy Osbourne, who has enjoyed a hugely successful and lengthy career.
A source claimed it was partly because he’s still “not back in her good books” following his sex addiction confession last year and their brief split.
An insider said: “Last year Sharon had Robbie Wiliams as her guest judge, but she wanted to do something different this time.
“She’s invited Jack and Kelly but there’s no space for Ozzy.
“She might have taken Ozzy back and called off the divorce, but clearly he’s not quite in the good books yet.”
However, Sharon and Black Sabbath rocker Ozzy, 68, certainly appear to be utterly loved up if her Instagram posts are anything to go by.
They got back together in 2016 following a brief split, which came amid allegations he’d been unfaithful with his hairstylist Michelle Pugh.
“I felt like a fool,” Sharon told Hello magazine in May.
“It was as though everyone else had known about it and that everybody was laughing at me.
“I felt very humiliated and belittled.”
However, she took Ozzy back and the pair renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas earlier this year, to mark 35 years of marriage.
Ozzy told Hello mag at the time: “This is a new beginning. I think that everyone should reaffirm their marriage.
“I walked out of the ceremony feeling completely refreshed.
“I know my wife loves me and she knows how much I love her.
“I’m excited for whatever our future holds.
“I made a huge mistake. Without Sharon, I am nothing. I love her. I can honestly say that I have never loved anybody other than my wife.”
After Ozzy’s affair with Michelle Pugh was revealed, he issued a statement apologising to Sharon and his family, and saying he’d been dealing with sex addiction for the past six years.
“I am mortified at what my behavior has done to my family,” he said.
“I thank God that my incredible wife is at my side to support me.
“I’m sorry if Ms. Pugh took our sexual relationship out of context. I’d also like to apologize to the other women I have been having sexual relationships with.
“Out of bad comes good.”
Sharon recently told The Telegraph: “It’s a deeper love now because I respect him so much. He’s really worked at being a better person for his family.”
Meanwhile, there’s still no official confirmation on who the X Factor judges will sign up as their special guests for Judges’ Houses – or even what categories they have got this year.
However, there are numerous rumours floating around claiming Sharon has the girls, Simon Cowell has the groups, Nicole Scherzinger has been given the overs, and Louis Walsh will mentor the boys.
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Simon is said to have tapped up old X Factor judge Cheryl to help him choose who to take to live shows, while Nicole reportedly turns to grime star Stormzy for help.
There’s no word yet on who Louis has chosen to assist him, although last year he was joined by Fleur East and Alesha Dixon, so he certainly has form for choosing good guests!
We can’t wait!