Rita Ora has reportedly quit ‘The X Factor’.
The ‘RIP’ hitmaker joined the judging panel last year after she was poached from rival show ‘The Voice’ but she’s now decided she won’t be returning to the singing competition when it hits screens later this year as she wants to focus on her music and the next installment of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Losing Rita is a huge blow – she’s one of the biggest stars in the country and Simon [Cowell] wanted her to return. She was keen to do the show but at the end of the day it didn’t work out with her other commitments around the world in music and acting."
Rita’s sudden departure no doubt came as a shock to big boss Simon as the 25-year-old beauty stole the show last year when her act Louisa Johnson was crowned the winner.
However, her exit leaves the judging panel in limbo at the moment as it comes just months after Cheryl and Nick Grimshaw also announced they will be stepping away.
The former Girls Aloud singer – who first joined the show in 2008 before leaving in 2010 and returning in 2014 for another two years – broke hearts across the nation in March when she confirmed she will be hanging up her judging hat for the foreseeable future to focus on her relationship with One Direction heartthrob Liam Payne and her music career.
And the radio presenter – who joined the show for just one series – decided he wanted his takeaway weekends back.
Meanwhile, although producers are frantically trying to find three replacement judges, Simon, 56, is keen to have Louis Walsh, who he dropped last year in favour of Nick, and Sharon Osbourne back on board because of their chemistry.
A source said recently: "Simon and Sharon have feuded for years and always said they would not work for each other again. But Simon is willing to put the past behind them because he is convinced the chemistry of the original panel is needed."
Rita Ora quits The X Factor
