Here are the first candid photos of Beyonce and Jay-Z with their daughter Blue Ivy. We’ve seen the posed photos of course – go here to see those pics again. Bey, Jay and Blue were photographed taking their daughter out for a late lunch at Sant Ambroeus in New York City yesterday. You can’t even see Blue – I guess that’s the baby in Beyonce’s arms, swaddled in blankets. I see Bey is already back to leather pants. I like how protective Jay looks of his wife and daughter. This is probably one of their first big outings as a family! Cute.

In other Beyonce news, you know how we were discussing LeAnn Rimes’s public shill for a gig on The X Factor? Well, apparently Simon Cowell is very interested in Beyonce for either the UK X-Factor or the American version, but he probably won’t be able to meet her price:

Pop superstar Beyoncé wants an eye-watering $50million to be a judge on X Factor. Show supremo Simon Cowell approached her about taking the role to mark her return to showbiz following the birth of her baby girl Blue Ivy Carter. But The Crazy in Love star is said to have told him she’d only do it for a $50million contract – making her the highest-paid TV star in Britain.

Her wage demands are a major stumbling block – as the £32million figure is roughly equivalent to ITV’s entire production budget for a complete series. It comes as Cowell, 52, is preparing to revamp the ITV show’s judging panel after last year’s series was marred by a series of bitter on-air rows.

Kelly Rowland – who clashed with Tulisa over hopeful Mischa B – is understood to have been given the boot. Tulisa, Take That star Gary Barlow and X Factor veteran Louis Walsh are waiting to hear whether they will survive the shake-up.

Cowell’s bold approach to Beyonce – Kelly’s cousin and former Destiny’s Child bandmate – follows rumours that she had bought a home in Surrey with rapper husband Jay-Z. The New York-based superstar is currently focused on being a mum after the birth last month of Blue – the couple’s first child.

A source close to ITV said: “Even Simon was shocked by the scale of Beyonce’s demands. However, she would be an incredible signing.”

However, Beyonce has also been tipped as a possible recruit to the US version of the show – where Cowell is looking for two new judges after firing Pussycat Doll Nicole Sherzinger and Paula Abdul.

Last week the music mogul opened the door to the possibility of making a sensational return to the UK judging panel himself after a year out.

He let slip during an interview at a charity event that he would consider changes to his schedule to allow him to take part in both Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor.

He said: “Do you know what? I’m going to see maybe if we can move the dates around so I can do both shows the future because I miss it.”

Cheryl Cole has ruled herself out of returning to the show.

[From The Mirror]

I know that I should be all “I can’t believe Beyonce is asking for that much money.” But I can’t. Beyonce probably just jacked up her asking price so much because she really doesn’t want to take the gig. I mean, she’s still one of the most internationally popular musical acts – there’s no reason for her to “slum it” on a reality show, you know? I understand that The X Factor is a huge deal in the UK, but in America, you only do reality programming when your career is on the downward swing.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.