Meet the New Host of “The X Factor” - Khloe Kardashian

Khloe Kardashian

Have you heard? Socialite reality star Khloe Kardashian is in the running to replace Welshman Steve Jones as the new host of the Fox singing competition The X Factor.

Insiders tell E! News — home of the Kardashian reality soaps — that the 28-year-old star is one of a number of big names who has auditioned for the gig as the host of Simon Cowell’s ill-fated series. Rock princess Kelly Osbourne, Extra host Mario Lopez and former WWE star Stacy Keibler are also in the running.

“They’re doing the auditions without a host so it’s no big deal they don’t have hosts right now. Simon really wants to take his time…”

In January, Jones was axed from the X Factor after his tenure was plagued by “terrible reviews.” Also on the chopping block were judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who proved herself an indecisive judge when she waffled on a vote and fan favorite, Rachel Crow, ended up going home.

“Everyone thought he’d be a new Ryan Seacrest, in the sense he’d become a huge star here,” an X Factor insider told The Chicago Sun Times on Wednesday. “It just didn’t happen…Everyone has been surprised about that, including Simon [Cowell], who was initially a big fan of Steve’s.”

USA Today pundit Robert Bianco once called the 34-year-old presenter “as charmless as a Ken doll and even less animated.” Ouch.

“There have been mistakes and he just doesn’t seem to have the knack for dealing with contestants.”

Steve eventually blamed his “rude” hosting manner on “screaming” producers.