Cowell in talks with Cheryl Cole about ‘X Factor’ return
By Josh Haggis
Simon Cowell has confirmed he is in talks with Cheryl Cole about the singer returning to The X Factor judging panel.
The Call My Name star was on the panel for three years until 2011, when she left to join the US version of the show. Before The X Factor USA aired, Cole was removed from the panel and replaced by Nicole Scherzinger.
Cowell has already confirmed he will be returning to the UK show this year and during the Britain’s Got Talent auditions in London on Tuesday (February 11) he told BANG Showbiz that he has asked Cole, at least provisionally, to join him.
“To be fair to Cheryl, it hasn’t been about the money with her,” he said. “It’s about whether she wants to do it and whether she can handle the pressure, so I’m not quite sure yet [if she will come back].”
Cowell then added: “She had her poker face on.”
Cheryl Cole posted a picture of herself and Cowell on the judging panel on Instagram yesterday (February 12), fuelling rumours that she is considering returning to the show. The singer also tweeted recently that she’s back in the studio recording her fourth album.
Last year’s X Factor final was watched by 11.5 million viewers, while the 2010 final attracted a peak audience of nearly 20 million. Meanwhile, US network Fox has announced this week The X Factor USA, which had been running for three seasons, has been cancelled.
> Simon Cowell returning to X Factor UK judging panel