Rita Ora to star as The Voice judge after turning down X FACTOR

Rita, 23, will replace Kylie Minogue, twice her age, after agreeing a six-figure deal with the BBC

Voice of a generation: Star has penned big bucks deal

Pop star Rita Ora has signed up as a coach on The Voice – months after rejecting a £1million offer from Simon Cowell to star on this year’s X Factor.

The singer, 23, whose hits include RIP and How We Do, has agreed a six-figure deal and BBC bosses are preparing to make the announcement.

Rita will replace Kylie Minogue, 46, after the Aussie left the panel earlier this year.

Rita is expected to sit on the panel with current coaches will.i.am, Ricky Wilson and Tom Jones.

The source said: “It is pretty set in stone that Will, Ricky and Tom will return. They are very much up for being on the panel and they’ve all met Rita, so they are delighted.”

Simon, 54, offered Rita a £1million X Factor deal this year after she was a guest judge on the ITV talent show in 2012. But the singer turned him down at the last minute.

A spokesman for The Voice production firm Wall to Wall and the BBC said: “It is too early to confirm speculation. An announcement will be made in due course.”