Saturday, 23 August 2008

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Dannii Minogue threatened by family on The X Factor

Judge flees set after bust-up over decision

Dannii Minogue got a cuddle from fellow judge Cheryl Cole after the incident

Dannii Minogue was forced to flee an audition on The X Factor after she was threatened by a contestant's family.

Things got nasty when the judge, 36, cast the deciding vote that meant the hopeful failed to get through to the next stage.

She scarpered from the room and only returned when escorted by Simon Cowell’s bodyguard.

‘I hid near him,’ she tells The Mirror. ‘If I feel frightened, I’ll always run to him.

‘Tony’s a friendly giant but I wouldn’t want to mess with him.’

The incident was also said to have shocked new judge Cheryl Cole, 25, who was unaware things could get so heated.

‘It was eye-opening for Cheryl who’d never seen a confrontation like it,’ a source reveals.

‘She gave Dannii a kiss and a cuddle to make sure she was ok but she was trembling herself.’

Security on the show has been increased following the incident.

Holly Arnold