'She's a b****': The claws come out as Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey bicker their way through American Idol's season premiere

It's back - and the catfights have begun.
American Idol kicked off its twelfth season on Wednesday night with a whole new judge line-up.
Superstar Mariah Carey, rapper Nicki Minaj and country music sensation Keith Urban joined up with long-term judge Randy Jackson.

Mudslinging already: Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey came to blows as they joined the judging panel in the twelfth season premiere of American Idol on Wednesday

And it didn't take long for the much-hyped feud between Carey and Minaj to begin to simmer, with Minaj dubbing her a ‘b****’.
‘History has shown that an Idol can do anything,’ said host Ryan Seacrest, detailing the 200 million records sold and 371 number one hits racked up by former contestants.
‘Together we have created a phenomenon,’ Seacrest added. ‘It's the dawn of a brand new season. A new generation will carry the torch.’
And with thousands of people lining up to audition in New York City they were hopeful the process would get off to a winning start.
‘How could you not find someone good?’ asked Mariah Carey.

Causing trouble: Nicki branded Mariah a 'b****' during their first day of filming together

Enough is enough: Nicki's fiery side was visibly getting on Mariah's nerves

The judges gathered at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan to hear the hopefuls - and from the off, Carey and Minaj began to fight.
‘I wanted to bring my dog,’ said Carey when she saw Minaj's white, fluffy drum major's hat sitting on the judges' desk. ‘We can have accessories? I didn't know that was allowed. But that's the last thing I'm going to say.’
‘Play nice,’ said Minaj. ‘I actually love the hat,’ said Carey. ‘But why'd you have to reference the hat?’ asked Minaj.
‘In the elevator you said, “Stop looking me up and down, Mariah.” ‘I wasn’t. I was admiring the hat,’ said Carey.
‘It’s going to be wild,’ said Jackson.

Stuck in the middle: Fellow judges Keith Urban and Randy Jackson patiently sat back as the pair had it out

A diva has arrived: Mariah made an entrance in her sunglasses, but upon Nicki's arrival it seemed she had met her match

The first contestant of the new season told Mariah that her song, All I Want for Christmas Is You is the best ever Christmas tune - much to the anger of Nicki Minaj.
‘She’s a b****, she’s a b****, she’s a b****,’ Minaj chanted through gritted teeth.
‘If she called me something that begins with a “B” and ends in an “-itch”, I rebuke it,’ said Carey.

 

‘I’m in a good seat right here,’ laughed Urban - who was stuck between the two women.
And after a commercial break it was straight back into it, with an argument over a Lindsay Lohan film.
‘I want to lose three pounds,’ said Carey as she got her make-up done.

Talk to the hand: There were plenty of gestures from the two divas as they bickered throughout the episode

Can't stop squabbling: The pair managed to find a remarkable amount of things to disagree on in two days

‘I know how you can,’ said Minaj.
‘It’s a quote from Mean Girls. If you knew Mean Girls you would know,’ said Carey. ‘I do know Mean Girls,’ said Minaj.
‘OK, who says “I want to lose three pounds.” Which character?’ challenged Carey.
‘Not Lindsay. The other one, with the blonde hair,’ said Minaj.
‘What’s her name?’ asked Carey. ‘You know something?’ said Minaj. ‘Mariah?’
‘I just want to know,’ said Carey. ‘Broken promises, right?’

Keeping professional: Fortunately Mariah and Nicki did often feel the same way about the contestants' performances

Not all bad: Mariah and Nicki did enjoy some fun moments and Nicki admitted she thinks they actually 'gel well'

Host Ryan Seacrest said: ‘When you add three incredibly passionate performers to the panel, you know there’s going to be some potential personality conflict.’
Viewers then saw Minaj pretending to choke Carey as she walked towards her. ‘What is going on with you, Miss Minaj?’ asked Carey.
Then - affecting a posh English accent - Carey asked for some ice from an assistant as Minaj literally got her claws out.
After a successful first day of try-outs the judges were back for day two - and this time Minaj was sporting a wild multicoloured wig.
And it was only seconds before she and Carey started to bicker again.

Picture perfect: Both Mariah and Nicki had an army of hair and make-up artists primping them in between auditions

New York state of mind: The judges spent the first two days of auditions in the Big Apple and gave the hopefuls some words of encouragement

The new judges replace Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, who left after the end of season 11.
‘We had a good time, right?’ asked Jackson at the end of the program.
‘Who said I had fun?’ joked Carey. ‘I had a little fun. I did,’ she added.
‘I feel like we gel well, in a weird crazy way,’ said Minaj.  ‘I agree,’ said Carey.
But as they went their separate ways, Minaj told one camera following her: ‘I had to strangle one of the divas on the panel but I won't tell you who.