Mel B: I want Dannii's job on X Factor

ZOE EXCLUSIVE

Ex-Spice Girl Mel B has her sights on Dannii Minogue's job as an X Factor judge.

Mel is close to Simon Cowell and believes she could be a hit working alongside him and fellow judges Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh.

"Yes, I'd do Dannii's job," she said after we revealed how Kylie's sister, 37, faces the axe from the next series.

"Me and Simon see each other in Los Angeles quite a lot. He's nice - funny, jokey and chatty. I really need to talk to him about it. I've been a presenter on Dancing With The Stars in the US and I loved it, so I'm sure I'd be good on the X Factor."

Mel, 33 - back in Britain to promote her fitness DVD Totally Fit Mel B - is happier than ever after settling down with film producer Stephen Belafonte, who she wed in 2007.

She said: "We'll be together forever. We get closer every day. We've known each other for eight years and he'll always be my best friend.

"We can read each other. We can give each other a look and know what the other's thinking."

The mum of two moved to Los Angeles in 2003 after divorcing husband No1 Jimmy Gulzar. She won Americans' hearts when she competed in Dancing With The Stars two years ago and returned the following year as a presenter.

She also revealed she keeps in touch with her old bandmates and hinted they could make another comeback.

"I text the girls all the time," she said. "And Victoria and David sent us a lovely Christmas card.

As for the future, who knows what will happen?"