Rita Ora 'turned down £1m X Factor judging deal'

Singer-songwriter Rita Ora has reportedly turned down a £1m contract to become a judge on the X factor.

The 23-year-old had been a guest judge for the show in the past, but she decided not to commit to Simon Cowell’s offer of a full-time position.

Despite being ‘flattered’ by Cowell’s determination to get her to join his rejuvenated ITV venture, the ‘What We Do’ singer backed off because she was worried this could affect her music career.

Cara Delenvigne’s ‘wifey’ told sources at the Daily Mirror that she wants to focus on her own music, ahead of her new album launch this summer. A job in TV, she suggested, would distract her from her pursuits and take up too much time.

She said: "If I were to take on that role, it would have to be at a point when I could give it my full attention.

"I have so much to accomplish first and it's kind of a full-time job being on X Factor. It's not like a nine to five. It's constant, for months."

However, the sources also blamed Rita’s fear of a Jessie-J effect on her reputation: “She also saw how Jessie J’s album struggled after she appeared as a coach on The Voice, and thinks the two could be connected”

The British songstress is in LA at the moment, working on her new single featuring boyfriend DJ Calvin Harris. Cowell, who never made a mystery of his high regard for Rita’s performance as a judge, invited her to his Californian home two weeks ago. However, she could not be swayed.

After leaving the X Factor’s UK version for the States, Cowell is expected to make a return to the British judging panel alongside long-time judge and friend Louis Walsh. Yet, Cowell will have to find someone else to replace Gary Barlow and Nicole Sherzinger, who have both announced they will not return to the talent show.