Simon Cowell has said he is bored of catfights between The X Factor judges and he just wants everyone to get along.

The music mogul has dropped his old friend Louis Walsh from this year's panel amid rumours he did not get along with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.

The signing of young pop star Rita Ora has sparked rumours of rivalry between her and Fernandez-Versini, but Cowell has insisted the judges are all working together.

He said: "I think people are bored of the catfights now. It's not like they actually fight, they just don't talk to each other! After a while that gets really boring and it does affect their ability to judge the show.

"I think with Cheryl and Rita they have helped each other and it feels like they have known each other a long time."

Cowell added: "Everyone thought these two were going to hate each other, that there would be a big catfight, but I genuinely never thought that ... After they had their first meeting Cheryl called me and said, 'Oh my god, I think she's really cool, I like her'.

"I had them all over to my house for dinner one night and it was just easy. She's really good."

Ora claimed it will be impossible for her and Fernandez-Versini to clash as they are so different.

She said: "I actually think for the first time in a long time, that's not going to happen.

"I think that once you start watching the show it won't even be possible. We have banter, Cheryl's a girl's girl, she was in a girlband and she knows how to act around women and the sensitiveness and all that. I'm more of a guy, I'm like a tomboy. I don't get emotional easily. I don't get offended easily; it takes a lot for me to be really hurt by something.

"I was grateful that there was another female on the panel, it made me feel more comfortable."

Fernandez-Versini added: "I think ultimately we all want to have a great season and to have someone great win, whoever that person belongs to shouldn't really matter, not really."