Nicki Minaj for US X Factor?

Nicki Minaj is being tipped to appear as a judge on the US version of The X Factor.

The US rapper has reportedly been in talks with Simon Cowell to discuss a possible role on the forthcoming talent show.

'Simon thinks Nicki is fantastic,' a source told the New York Post. 'She's sassy, she looks great and she has bags of personality.'

Only one judge - fomer Island Def Jam Music Group boss L.A. Reid - has been chosen for the show so far, which is due to air in the autumn.

Other names being tipped to appear on the panel include Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and Cheryl Cole.

But reports suggest that Cole may be out of the running, according to her rumoured boyfriend Derek Hough's stepdad. 

'She didn't get the X Factor job,' Aaron Nelson told The Sun. 

'Our heart goes out to her. Showbiz is always competitive, everyone wants to do well. It's so tough for her.'

Auditions for the US version of the show start in LA on March 27.