Dannii Minogue says it was mentoring X Factor contestants that finally made her consider becoming a mother.
Kylie's younger sister, who became a judge on the talent show aged 36 in 2007, said: "It was the first time... I had any feeling of being maternal.
"I was so protective of anyone who was in my team.
"I felt like a mother when I pushed them out on stage.
"They'd be nervous and wanting to throw up and saying 'I don't want to go on stage'.
And I’m like ‘no, no, go on, you’ll be fine, nerves are good, if you didn’t have nerves and you’re going on stage and half the country is watching, and it’s live, I would be worried about you’.
"It was through that experience, that I even was opening up to the thought of it. So for me looking back on that huge experience and everything that was a part of it, it basically set me up for the next part of my life."
Dannii, now 49, went on to give birth to son Ethan in July 2010. She has since separated from his father Kris Smith.
Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast, Dannii admitted that before Simon Cowell hired her for The X Factor, she had always feared that her singing career might suddenly stop.
She said: "I had worked from seven years old. There are so many moments when I thought, ‘My time is surely up any moment, it’s been lovely, and I’ve no experience at anything.’
"You just feel like it's coming to a natural end soon.
"X Factor was... another start and it's propelled me for many years afterwards and I'm just thankful."
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