Steve Jones wants Nicole Scherzinger

Los Angeles - Steve Jones plans to ask Nicole Scherzinger out if he gets the axe from The X Factor USA.

The Welsh presenter insists his relationship with judge Nicole is strictly professional at the moment but admits she is "smokin' hot" and he would jump at the chance to date her if they were no longer colleagues.

He said: "She's smokin' hot but we're colleagues and good friends. If I ever leave X Factor, Scherzinger's phone will be smoking hot from me ringing it constantly because if we're not colleagues ... Oh, she's fair game. Oh yeah!"

Blasted by critics

However, Steve might change his mind about dating Nicole as it was recently claimed he could be replaced as host by Nicole, who took up a role on the judging panel alongside LA Reid, Paula Abdul and show boss Simon Cowell after Cheryl Cole was sensationally axed from the series after just four rounds of auditions.

Although Steve's job is reportedly under threat after critics blasted his performance during the debut series, he insists he doesn't mind if he is not asked back for the second season.

He told 'Access Hollywood': "If I'm back, great, if not I'll do something else - simple as that.

"But quite frankly, we have been 100% focused on making it the best show possible for our viewers. I don't want to pull the focus back on to me."

Steve has previously enjoyed romances with a bevy of famous beauties, rumoured to include Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson and Halle Berry.

Nicole recently split from Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton after four years of dating, but the sportsman is believed to want her back.