Simon Cowell is planning to beg for a free dressing room makeover.
The music mogul has had the ‘X Factor’ budget slashed this year and paid for his own changes to his backstage area, but has now realised there could be ways of capitalising on his fame and getting someone else to pay for it.
He told heat magazine: "I had my dressing room done up and I paid for it. I might tweet to see if we can get interior designers to do them up for free."
All of the judges – Simon, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw – are taking home less money than the panel has done in previous years, while the show chief is also looking at other ways to cut costs.
A source said: "Judges’ salaries are less than last year.
"Rita and Nick aren’t paid as much as judges have been, Cheryl is being paid less and Simon has even taken a self-imposed pay cut.
"There’ll be no budget for judges wardrobes and Simon wants to ban entourages from the backstage bar during live shows."
Instead, the cash will be going on securing high-profile acts to perform during the last shows after Britney Spears’ appearance last year saw a ratings surge.
The source said: "The budget is going into star performances.
"Britney will be back and they are after Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Beyonce – a huge name every week.
"They’ve already approached Britney with an offer of £300,000. There’s £500,000 for Gaga if it’s a world exclusive and £600k for Beyonce to do the final show.
Simon Cowell wants X Factor freebies
