By Andrea Magrath
Last updated at 8:47 PM on 7th May 2011
When Cheryl Cole was (finally) announced as a judge on the US version of the X Factor this week the response of many Americans was, 'Cheryl who?'
So the news today that former T4 presenter Steve Jones will be co-host of the high-profile American show comes as even more of a surprise.
The Welsh TV personality is to join Nicole Scherzinger in fronting Simon Cowell's latest venture, reports said today.
Surprise role: Welsh presenter Steve Jones is set be a co-host of X Factor USA
A formal announcement is expected in the next 24 hours, with the first auditions in front of the judging panel taking place in Los Angeles on Sunday.
The hiring of Jones, 34, may infuriate UK X Factor's Dermot O'Leary,who announced late last month that he was out of the running for the job after being told bosses at Fox wanted to hire 'an American.'
O'Leary, who had been vocal in his ambition to move stateside, said: 'I didn't get the US 'X Factor' job because they wanted an American.
Hot favourite: Nicole Scherzinger will co-host alongside Jones
'There's nothing I can do about that,' he told the Daily Star in April. 'I'm not upset any more. I've had time to get my head around it.'
High School Musical star Corbin Bleu was tipped as the hot favourite in American media for the role.
Jones, who left Channel 4 in November after ten years, said of the position recently: 'Of course I would love to do it. I'm a big X Factor fan.'
Snubbed: Dermot O'Leary was told an American would be hired, while High School Musical star Corbin Bleu was tipped as favourite in American media
He added: ‘It's one of the biggest - probably the biggest - jobs in presenting at the moment.'
The news that Steve, who famously dated Pamela Anderson in 2004, had landed the highly-coveted role was leaked on Twitter this morning when DJ Edith Bowman wrote: 'The Brits invade. Steve Jones is gonna host the American X Factor I hear. Well bl**** done you Mr Jones. And a Pussycat Doll to co-host possibly?’
Ever since her success as a guest judge on last year's X Factor, Nicole Scherzinger has been a hot favourite for the US version.
Confirmed: Judge Cheryl Cole arrived in LA today ahead of the first auditions tomorrow
Speculation was fierce that the former Pussycat Dolls singer would pip Cheryl Cole to a spot on the panel, but with Cheryl confirmed and already in LA today, it was a hosting role for Nicole.
During an appearance on Lorraine earlier this year, the singer spoke about her desire to be on the show.
'I have no idea what is going on, but I think that if they did ask me to do it I would definitely be honoured,' she said.
Awaiting her fate? Paula Abdul is said to be in last-minute negotiations with show bosses, according to reports
Speaking about her time as a guest judge Nicole said: 'That whole experience was so new to me, but it was fun and I guess if anyone can empathise with what they are going through – I’ve been through the exact same audition process, that’s how I got my big break in the US.
'And it’s what I love more than anything in the world, so why wouldn’t I be excited? I was happy to be a part of the show.'
Paula Abdul, the hot favourite to take the final judge's chair, is still awaiting her fate in last-minute negotiations, US media outlets reported today.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1384675/X-Factor-USA-Dermot-OLeary-snubbed-T4-presenter-Steve-Jones-joins-Nicole-Scherzinger-hosts.html#ixzz1LiYN3Yw9