Britney Spears will not return as judge on X Factor USA

Britney Spears will not be returning to the US version of The X Factor.

The singer spent one series with the show, sharing the judging panel with Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato and L.A. Reid.

She is thought to be taking time to work on new material, but also faced some criticism for her performance as a judge on the show.

Fellow judge L.A. Reid is also stepping down from The X Factor USA.

Last year much of the cast was updated after the first series did not do as well as expected.

British presenter Steve Jones was replaced as the host by Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez.

Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger also left the judging panel at the end of the first series.

That was the same series that featured Cheryl Cole in the original line-up, before she was replaced by Nicole Scherzinger, who was moved from her former position as co-host.

The second series of The X Factor USA was won by country music singer Tate Stevens, who was mentored by L.A. Reid.

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