X-Factor’s Simon Cowell will continue to play his Mr Nasty act on the US version of the show, he vowed.

But it’s not the acts who will be on the sharp end of his tongue – it will be the other judges.

SiCo said he would pit the judges on the panel against each other in a bid to create tension, and therefore draw in viewers, to the talent show.

With that in mind, he chose Antonio ‘LA’ Reid – chairman of the Def Jam music label – as his first judge.

Cowell warned: “He’s not someone you want to get on the wrong side of.”

And the 51-year-old said he wants the two women who will complete the judging panel to have the talons out, too.

“In life and in music, we all disagree on a lot of different things,” said the music mogul.

“The important thing is, you’ve got to feel comfortable about disagreeing with each other. I liked the Idol panel when we first started. We had different opinions, and I think it’s important you have different opinions.”

The waiting continues for Cheryl Cole, though. Kooky hip-hop star Nicki Minaj is the latest name to be added to Cowell’s shortlist, which already contains Jessica Simpson, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and Mariah Carey.

Insiders said Cowell thinks Minaj, 26, is ‘sassy’ and has ‘bags of personality’.