Simon Cowell has suggested that Katy Perry and Madonna would make for excellent judges on X Factor USA.

As previously reported, the staff on the American version of the TV talent show has undergone something of a cull recently, with Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and host Steve Jones all leaving.

Speaking to Extra, X Factor supremo Simon Cowell moved to praise both Katy Perry and Madonna as he looks to fill the empty seats on the judging panel. Speaking about Perry, Cowell said:

"I worked with Katy once, I think she would be fun. I think she is hard, in a good way and she's feisty."

Meanwhile, he had this to say about Queen of Pop Madonna: "Yes I think she would be great, in terms of experience and success."

Cowell also distanced himself from suggestions that Mariah Carey was being lined up to appear on the show, citing her family commitments as a major stumbling block. He said:

"I don't think Mariah would make that commitment. I really, really don't. She's just had kids, you have to work five days a week on this show and do all the travelling as well, so she won't be on the list. I adore her, but you can't expect someone who has just had two kids and has a recording career to make the kind of commitment we would need on this show."