Robbie Williams is set to release a Christmas single which will go head to head with a song from this year’s X Factor winner.
It will be another blow for Simon Cowell ’s ITV talent show which Robbie and wife Ayda Field quit last week.
Robbie, 45, said: “We’re in the studio working on Christmas stuff.”
And brushing off criticism it is too early to be doing festive music, he said: “If you write Christmas songs at Christmas you won’t get them out.”
Robbie and Ayda, 39, quit The X Factor which is expected to return in celebrity format this autumn.
It was reported Cowell refused to increase their joint £10million pay deal.
Louis Tomlinson, 27, is also poised to walk from the show, leaving Simon as the only returning judge.
But fan favourite Louis Walsh, 66, said: “If they want to pay me Robbie’s fee it’s a yes from me.”
