Olly "upsets" Gary Barlow

Gary Barlow has reportedly become infuriated with X Factor colleague Olly Murs for describing departed star Simon Cowell as "a better judge".

The Take That singer, who this year took over from Cowell as head panellist of the ITV reality show, is said to have felt humiliated by Murs's comment in a recent interview that the media mogul had more "experience" and was "a bit of a legend" in the music industry.

"Anyone would feel that some glorified karaoke singer passing judgment on his pedigree is disrespectful," a source close to Barlow told The Mirror. "Gary has every right to be upset. Olly is well out of order.

"When Gary and Olly properly come face to face again during the Judges' Houses stage, there will doubtless be fireworks.

"How Olly thinks he can get away with saying such things is beyond people on the set - Gary is a bona fide star who's sold millions of records."

In response, a spokesperson for the Xtra Factor host insisted that Murs had never intended to cause Barlow any upset.

"Olly thinks Gary is a fantastic judge and has said so repeatedly in the past," the representative stated. "He only said what he did because he was put on the spot."

Murs has previously spoken highly of Barlow's "great personality" and praised his "honest" judging style.