Sharon Osbourne has pulled out of the X-Factor shortly before filming on the new series was due to begin.
The 55-year-old had been due to sit alongside Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue at the first round of London auditions on June 12th.
ITV1 bosses will now be forced to search for a fourth judge after confirming Osbourne's exit in a statement on the network's website.
It said: "Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The X Factor after four fantastic years.
"ITV thanks her for her immense contribution to the show and for all her humour, compassion and energy.
"She has been a tremendous judge and mentor on the programme but we respect her wish to leave and wish her the very best with her future projects."
Osbourne sensationally walked out of the ITV talent show last year after being forced to choose between two of her three acts.
She appeared on Paul O'Grady's talk show shortly after storming out and said she had made a "mistake", and wanted to come back to the judging panel, and returned to the show shortly after clear-the-air talks.
06/06/2008 15:39:55
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