This looks to be last week on ‘The X Factor’ for Jones, Scherzinger

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Steve Jones (left) hasn’t caught on as host of “The X Factor,” and Nicole Scherzinger (right) has been an indecisive judge. | Frederick M. Brown~Getty Images

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Updated: January 22, 2012 8:15AM

Look for a lot of changes when “The X Factor” launches its second season next fall.

Sources at Fox say it’s almost certain that host Steve Jones will not be renewed. The Welsh personality — a huge star in Britain — just never clicked with American audiences, despite his good looks, pleasant demeanor and charm.

“Everyone thought he’d be a new Ryan Seacrest, in the sense he’d become a huge star here,” said an “X Factor” insider. “It just didn’t happen. … Everyone has been surprised about that, including Simon [Cowell], who was initially a big fan of Steve’s.”

† Also expected to exit is judge Nicole Scherzinger, who has lost show creator Cowell as an ally. “Nicole has been too much of a diva, plus she’s surprisingly overwhelmed by the decision-making required of the judging process on the show,” said the source.

“When she sold Rachel Crow down the river — that was the final nail in her coffin,” added the source, referring to the ex-Pussycat Doll’s vote that ultimately led to the 13-year-old Crow being ousted from the competition.

Officially, a show rep tells People, “No discussions have been had and no decisions will be made about any contracts until the New Year.”

PARENTS PEEVED: Not surprisingly, a lot of parents — and others — have expressed unhappy comments on Twitter, around the blogosphere and elsewhere on the Internet, about Justin Bieber’s “I never believed in Santa Claus” comment.

It should be noted the teen idol made clear in his AOL interview that he never shared his mother’s blunt Santa myth-busting with his fellow little pals. That said, many adults point to Bieber’s young fan base (including kids who still do believe in Santa) and predict his statement will be problematic for parents of those children.

ANOTHER SPLIT: After 10 years together — the equivalent of a half-century outside of Hollywood — former “Will and Grace” star Debra Messing and her husband Daniel Zelman have separated.

Messing and her actor-pro­du­cer husband told Us Weekly they split earlier this year but are amicable and continue to live in the same house with their son, Roman, 7.

The couple met many years ago, while studying at New York University, and married in 2000.

SLIPPING AWAY: After all that hoopla last month about a reopened investigation into the 30-year-old death of Natalie Wood, I’m hearing the passage of time and lack of any solid new evidence means nothing more will come of it.

Friends of Robert Wagner and his wife, Jill St. John, say the couple are understandably relieved — though very angry about the ugly headlines they have had to endure the past month or so.

NEW CAREER? Top-ranked tennis pro Novak Djokovic is planning an acting career. The racquet ace — a natural comic — already has snared headlines for his funny impressions of fellow top tennis players, plus his spoof of a Maria Sharapova commercial for Head racquets. That joke bit actually led Head to tap Djokovic to make a real ad with Sharapova.

Recently, Djokovic filmed a small role in “Expendables 2” in Bulgaria, and he has told friends he hopes to get into acting full time once his tennis career is over.

FAME BLAME: Sarah Leal’s footnote in Hollywood scandal history reportedly has caused her more pain than she ever expected. Her alleged one-night stand with Ashton Kutcher (on the weekend of his sixth anniversary with soon-to-be-ex-wife Demi Moore) has led to Leal being totally ostracized by her family — as well as losing her job as an administrative assistant.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS: Just got the word “American Idol” winner Lee DeWyze and OAR’s Chris Culos will be special guests at the New Year’s Eve bash at the Hard Rock Hotel — though there’s no word if they will perform together. … Mike Houlihan will be signing copies of his Hooliganism book at O’Donovan’s on West Irving Park, beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

SEEN ON SCENE: Marie Osmond had her fans smiling the other night as she dined at Rosebud Trattoria. … Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood and his wife, Sarah, checked out “Winter Wonderfest” at Navy Pier with their kids — then stopped by Harry Caray’s Tavern on the Pier to finalize plans for “Woody’s Winter Warmup,” their Jan. 13 benefit, an after-party following the Cubs’ convention opening ceremonies. … While in town, singer Jason Derulo made the scene at Hub 51 — where (separately) rapper Sammy Adams, former Bulls star Toni Kukoc and the Cubs’ Marlon Byrd also chowed down.