Dannii Minogue has lifted the lid on tension backstage on the X Factor.

According to the Australian judge, the contestants and judges are more tense than ever on this season's show.

Dannii is currently mentoring Matt Cardle and Paige Richardson and said of the pair: "The boys are doing really well. It's been a tough year because I think that everybody is so much more nervous this year because I think there's more at stake."

The former pop star also admitted that relations can be fraught between the judges saying: "We get passionate you know. The closer we get towards the end, sparks are going to start flying. Backstage and on the set."

Minogue expressed shock that her act Aiden Grimshaw was voted out last week adding: "It was a hard week last week when Aiden went, very hard. It reminded me of last year when Lucy went and you still had some people in the show that you think...ok!'