It’s official – after swirling rumours and rampant speculation Cheryl Cole has definitley been replaced by onetime Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger as X Factor judge, The Los Angeles Times reports.
“Fox, Fremantle North America and Syco TV today confirm Nicole Scherzinger will be replacing Cheryl Cole on the judging panel of ‘The X Factor,'” the companies behind the show said in an official statement released on Monday.
Scherzinger will join the show’s creator Simon Cowell as well as former pop star Paula Abdul and recording veteran L.A. Reid on the judges’ table.
The statement did not give a reason for Cole’s exit from the show but the former Girls Aloud star was humiliatingly sent packing from the show amid rumours that the producers were concerned Americans wouldn’t be able to understand her strong Geordie accent and that she lacked chemistry with key judge Paula Abdul.
The show’s spokesman also reportedly dodged about whether some early footage of Cole would need to be reshot.
Cowell reportedly offered Cole a slot back on the British X Factor where she made her name as the “nation’s sweetheart” (vom!) but she does not appear to have taken up the offer.
Scherzinger was originally slated to be co-host the show with presenter Steve Jones but now it appears he will do the job without her.
X Factor will screen in the US this coming Autumn.
