Gary Barlow: Mad Sharon Osbourne has smashed my X Factor head judge mug

Gary Barlow at war with Sharon Osbourne already (Picture: Xposurephotos.com)

Gary Barlow said Sharon Osbourne let him know very quickly who was boss when she smashed his 'head judge mug' as soon as she stepped back on The X Factor set after six years.

The Take That singer revealed Shazza has allied herself with Louis Walsh already after dodging speculation he will quit the show himself next year.

Dubbing the sharp-tongued 60-year-old as 'mad' and 'unpredictable', Gaz said at London auditions in Wembley on Monday: 'She's completely taken my head judge mug, she's smashed it. We've got the queen with us and it does feel like you're in the room with royalty.'

Revealing a fresh judging divide sparked by Osbourne's return, he said of Walsh and Osbourne: 'They're already ganging up on me and Nicole. It's artists versus managers.'

'Mad' Sharon Osbourne is back on X Factor. Pic: XPOSUREPHOTOS.COM

Asked if rumours were true that he will quit Simon Cowell's show after 3 years to reform Take That, the 42-year-old said: 'It's far too early to think about next year, it's all about this year.'

As for this year's batch of talent, he promised more talent like chart toppers Little Mix and One Direction.

'At this point I think the groups are the strongest this year. We've never seen the groups looking so strong. But if there was a category to have, I think it would be that one.'