Cheryl Cole quits UK X Factor ?

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 12:48 AM

Cheryl Cole quits UK X Factor to concentrate on breaking the States with U.S. show

By Sara Nathan
Last updated at 2:30 AM on 13th April 2011

It is a subject as hotly speculated as the designer of Kate Middleton’s dress
But Cheryl Cole is finally set to sign her £3million deal to star on the U.S. X Factor – and will quit the UK show to concentrate on breaking her career in the States.
The news comes just a day after the Daily Mail told how Simon Cowell will not appear as a judge on the UK version this year, instead planning to make a few appearances.
Stateside: Cheryl Cole is expected to join the panel alongside Cowell and L.A. Reid with Paula Abdul hotly-tipped to be the fourth judge
Stateside: Cheryl Cole is expected to join the panel alongside Cowell and L.A. Reid with Paula Abdul hotly-tipped to be the fourth judge
It was multi-millionaire Cowell, 51, who seemingly broke the news of Mrs Cole’s contract yesterday, which was also echoed by American showbiz industry bible Variety magazine.
 
Speaking from London via video link on Fox breakfast show Good Day LA, he was asked by the presenter if Mrs Cole would be joining him in one of the hot seats, to which he replied with a firm 'yes'.
However, perhaps realising his faux-pas, the music mogul then seemed to quickly backtrack on his statement, explaining that the panel had not actually been decided yet. He went on to even try to blame a delay in video link for his incorrect response.
Dream come true: Cheryl's hopes were initially put on ice after feedback from focus groups on the Girls Aloud singer were negative
Dream come true: Cheryl's hopes were initially put on ice after feedback from focus groups on the Girls Aloud singer were negative
The Mail told in December how Mrs Cole, 27, had been told that she had won a judging role on the U.S. X Factor, which will launch in September – after American TV executives flew over to watch her on the UK show.
However, her dreams were put on ice after Fox TV chiefs held focus groups, where potential X Factor viewers were shown footage of the Girls Aloud singer. The resulting feedback was not good, although Mrs Cole continued to be backed by Cowell and senior Fox bosses.
But yesterday, Variety magazine reported that the petite brunette’s contract is currently being drawn up and that her announcement as the third judge on the television talent show will swiftly follow.
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole
New look: Executives at Cheryl's record company Polydor are already working on a dramatic make-over to help her break America
The Newcastle-born star will join Cowell and former record executive L.A. Reid on the panel, with Cowell’s former American Idol colleague Paula Abdul strongly tipped to win the fourth spot.
Mrs Cole joined the X Factor in 2008 when she replaced Sharon Osbourne on the ITV hit - but will be a new face to American audiences.
Her second solo album, Messy Little Raindrops, was released in November and the single Promise This shot to No. 1 in the U.K. charts.
According to U.S. reports, the Girls Aloud singer's contract is currently being put together, which would see her become the third panellist on the new Stateside version of the show alongside Simon Cowell and Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid.
Delay: Auditions for the British X Factor have been pushed back from late April to May in order to let Cowell concentrate on the U.S show
Delay: Auditions for the British X Factor have been pushed back from late April to May in order to let Cowell concentrate on the U.S show
Even without a job on the American X Factor, friends had told in the past that Mrs Cole had planned to make the last series of the British show her last stint as judge.
Sharp-eyed executives at her record company Polydor have already made plans to work on a dramatic make-over for her to help her break America.
She has increasingly spent more time in Los Angeles, where the X Factor will be filmed, and where her close friend Derek Hough lives.
An X Factor spokeswoman said announcements on the U.S judges would be made in due course.
Meanwhile, the auditions for the British X Factor have been pushed back from late April to May in order to let Cowell concentrate on the U.S show.
Last week. Cowell said: ‘We're still having nightly arguments with everyone trying to get everyone to agree. If you asked everyone involved with this show who they'd like as the panel, you'd have about 25 different opinions.
'I'm used to this. I've done shows in the past where the day before filming we still haven't agreed on the fourth judge because people freak out, they have different ideas, another name comes into play...'
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