Sharon Osbourne replaced by Alesha Dixon at X Factor auditions after pulling out due to back pain

Alesha Dixon has stepped in to replace Sharon Osbourne at the X Factor auditions after she was forced to pull out due to back pain.

Fresh from her judging stint on Britain’s Got Talent, Dixon was a last minute addition to the first of this year’s auditions in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

Osbourne, 64, flew from the UK back to her home in Los Angeles earlier this week to visit a doctor to help with the “recurring” problem.

“Unfortunately, Sharon is suffering from niggling back problems following surgery earlier in the year and will be unable to take part in the Edinburgh auditions,” said an X Factor spokesperson.

They added: “Alesha will be guest judging on the panel today.”

Dixon was also drafted in to replace Nicole Scherzinger during Saturday’s auditions as the former Pussycat Doll had other commitments.

Osbourne was forced to undergo surgery on her back earlier this year after she hurt it playing with her grandchildren.

“I was on the floor with them playing with toys and I got up. As I got up from the floor, my back — I just felt this twist in my back at the base of my spine,” she said at the time.

“They tried to do it with an epidural to ease the pain – that didn’t do any good, so I had to go in and have surgery. And I’ve been in bed doing nothing. My life has just been like nothing.”