"The X Factor" creator Simon Cowell recently spoke to Ellen Generes in an interview where he revealed why Britney Spears is no longer a judge in Season 3 of the USA talent show.

He said, "I think if I'm being honest with you, Ellen, there was a time I think everyone was trying to up themselves in terms of who could find the biggest known star to be on a panel."

Mentioning JLo and Christina Aguillera as judges of other talent shows, the 53-year old producer explained, "And we said, 'We'll take Britney'.   She was fine, but I think she found it very uncomfortable."

On Ellen's comment that Spears is not a big talker, Cowell remarked, "I didn't realize that!  I kind of booked someone who couldn't talk, which is a bit of a problem when you want someone to judge... She wasn't comfortable being negative, she didn't like it when the contestants spoke back to her, so she was just uncomfortable.  I liked her.  So we decided to change it this year." 

The 31-year old singer had already announced earlier this year that she would not be returning, and L.A. Reid would be absent this season as well.  Taking their places in the judges' table beginning this fall are Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio, who will join Demi Lovato and Simon Cowell.

On the other side of the globe, it has been said that "The X Factor" UK had been luring Miley Cyrus to their show.  But being a family program, twerking and gyrating may not be suitable for the younger (and the older) members of the audience.

Quoting Michael Smith of Las Vegas Guardian Express, "The show's staff excitedly lured Miley Cyrus to perform on the English TV talent program that is Simon Cowell's brainchild. With her over the top live number on the Video Music Awards show, she is huge in terms of publicity and will prove to be a boost to the show's ratings. But they don't want Cyrus to be too controversial..."

That could be difficult to negotiate, since Cyrus, as far as people could see, is all for being controversial.  In a recent interview with MTV News, she said, "... everyone that performs, that's what you're looking for, you want to make history."