THERE'S a new face on the show but it's bust-ups and business as usual on...the VEX Factor!

Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole has only just joined pop diva Dannii Minogue on the X Factor judging panel — but already they're locked in a massive backstage feud.

And the reason is 36-year-old Dannii's jealousy over boss Simon Cowell's closeness to new girl Cheryl, 25.

Dannii felt she was now queen bee after seeing off feisty Sharon Osbourne from the hit TV talent show, which returns to the screen in September.

But she is now upset that a younger, prettier Cheryl— fresh from her battle to tame love-cheat footie star hubby Ashley Cole—has stolen her thunder.

Feelings run so deep that insiders say the girls have had to be SEPARATED on the panel by chief judge Cowell.

A senior X Factor source said: "Those girls absolutely HATE each other.

"Of course, they're both professionals during filming but when the cameras stop rolling it's clear they have a big problem with one another.

"There's been a lot of aggro. We've heard plenty of snide comments backstage and the cameras have picked up the fact there's obviously a lot of needle there.