It has just been announced that Dannii Minogue will not be present for the audition rounds of the X Factor 2010.

The pregnant singer, whose first baby is due in July, has stated that she will be at home in Australia for the first stages of filming, and will therefore not be taking part.

When asked if she’d be able to fit in filming around the birth, she replied: ‘If they’re auditioning in the hospital in Australia, yes, but otherwise no!’

‘I will totally miss Cheryl and Louis and Simon, and not being there for the auditions, but I really need to be near my family in Australia at such an important time,’ she told Digital Spy.

It is not yet known whether Dannii will then resume her seat on the panel for the live shows.