'The X Factor's Sharon Osbourne has already turned contestants into quivering wrecks with her acid tongue.

Sharon Osbourne

Sharon Osbourne

The 63-year-old star has only just reclaimed her seat on the judging panel following a three-year hiatus but it seems she's wasting no time reverting back to her old ways as she's already reduced a number of hopefuls to tears.

On the recent auditions held in Manchester, a source said: "Sharon's showing no mercy this year. She's had contestants, who have queued up from 16 hours to audition, in pieces. Some were left so distraught by her comments they refused to do interviews afterwards."

And it seems the feisty redhead isn't just keeping her comments related to the auditions as she's also made a few personal digs at emotional contestants.

The insider explained: "She even described one as looking 'like a little hooker'. It's safe to say the bitch is back."

However, Sharon - who is reportedly being £1.7 million to rejoin the judging panel - insists that she doesn't intend to upset anyone and believes that the "nerves and rejection" cause emotions to run high.

She told The Sun newspaper: "I don't want to hurt anyone, but unfortunately the nerves and rejection during the audition process does often cause some tears. I'm a mum and a grandma, I don't want to intentionally hurt anyone who comes to audition but sometimes you have to say no."

Sharon - who appeared on the panel for three years from 2004 and again in 2013 - previously admitted she was thrilled about joining the singing show again alongside Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger.

She said at the time: "I'm overjoyed about going back to 'The X Factor', sitting with Lou, Lou, gorgeous Nicole and naughty Simon."