Robbie Williams rumoured to be joining Take That pal Gary Barlow as X Factor judge

Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow (Rex Features)

Take That duo Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow could be reunited on the X Factor judging panel, according to reports.

Show bosses are said to be considering plans to line up the pair on the next series of the ITV talent show which suffered from a slide in ratings last year.

An average audience of 11.1 million tuned in to watch James Arthur win last year's final, compared with the 13.1 million who watched Little Mix win in 2011.

It is only three years since 17.2 million tuned in to see Matt Cardle triumph in the 2010 competition.

The Sun reported that TV bosses wanted Williams and Barlow to provide "fireworks" on the show, and are also planning to bring back Nicole Scherzinger as a judge.

The pair fell out when Williams quit Take That in 1995, but have since made up and Williams rejoined his bandmates in 2010 for a new album and a string of sell-out concert dates.

A spokesman for the show said: "It's far too early to say anything about the judging panel for this year's X Factor."

PA