Dannii Minogue fled the set of a British TV talent show audition in terror after being threatened by a contestant's family.

Minogue had been judging performers in a round of auditions for the X Factor when she used her casting vote to stop a male singer from going through to the next round.

Her vote angered not only the singer but his family as well who waited to confront her.

The 36-year-old has told a Scottish newspaper she was "petrified" as the singer and his family tried to corner her.

She says she only felt safe enough to return after a fellow judge agreed to lend her his hefty bodyguard.

AAP