Kelly and Tulisa patch things up

Kelly Rowland and Tulisa Contostavlos have ended their 'X Factor' feud.

The warring judges - who fell out after the N-Dubz singer branded Kelly's act Misha B a "bully" live on air - have put their differences aside following a "clear the air" chat at the weekend.

With Kelly set to return from Los Angeles, where she has been holed up with a mystery throat infection, later in the week, the former friends are set to "catch up" at rehearsals and put their stormy past behind them.

An insider told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Kelly said she understood what happened in the heat of the moment with Tulisa's comments on Misha and her attacking contestants. She said she felt the whole thing had got out of hand and they needed to move on.

"She has been in America, out of the 'X Factor' melting pot and realised that things had been blown out of proportion.

"Tulisa was happy to get the call and they made up and were on good terms by the end of the call. They're going to catch up at rehearsals at the end of the week."

This comes as head judge Gary Barlow admits there is "nothing staged" on the panel of the show, and the frosty exchanges between Tulisa and Kelly are "always real".

In an interview with heat magazine, he said: "I have found it draining at times. Everyone is fiercely protective of their acts, so it gets quite heated. It's real. I don't get involved in any backstage gossip.

"There's nothing staged on the judges' panel exchanges. It's always real."