By Jody Thompson and Sara Nathan


Job done: L.A. Reid, right, apparently let it slip that Cheryl Cole will be joining him on the judging panel of X Factor USA


The 'is she or isn't she' saga of Cheryl Cole and the U.S. version of the X Factor has taken an intriguing twist tonight with the news that the star has landed a job on the judging panel.

Producer L.A. Reid - the only person officially announced so far as being on the show - apears to have let the news slip before it could be revealed by show boss Simon Cowell.

Gossip blogger Perez Hilton reports that when asked about how X Factor USA would differ from American Idol, Reid said: 'We’re gonna compete against American Idol just fine. I’m very confident. But along with Simon Cowell and Cheryl, I don’t know who the other judge is.'


Equally intriguingly, Simon's official spokesperson refused to confirm or deny the news, giving MailOnline an official 'no comment'.

Simon has been spending the past two months trying to persuade bosses at network Fox that Cheryl was the right person for the job - despite their reservations.

They had fears that not only was the star too little known in the States, but that viewers would have problems understanding her Geordie accent.
Nicole Scherzinger meanwhile is favourite to take over the presenting role on the show.

It seems that ITV is already busy working out how to replace Cheryl on the UK's X Factor too.

As The Mail on Sunday revealed at the weekend, Lily Allen and Gary Barlow are names in the frame to replace Cheryl on the panel.

Fight for this love: Simon Cowell is said to have battled with Fox bosses for two months to get Cheryl on the show


It's understood that Simon will not be quitting the UK show completely, but will be flying between the U.S. and Britain to appear on both shows, though possibly not as a permanent judge on the UK show.

He may well have a stand-in on some weeks - hence both Lily and Gary being up for jobs on the panel.

ITV boss Peter Fincham this week confirmed The X Factor - which started in 2004 - will be 'very different' when it returns in August.

He told The Mail on Sunday: 'We will announce plans for the panel when we are ready.

But what I can tell you at this stage is that the new series of The X Factor will be very new and very different from what we have seen before.'


Beauty: Cheryl was out and about at a Princes' Trust awards gala in London last week


A senior X Factor source added: ­'Contracts are due to be signed this week for the existing judges who are returning.

'Lily Allen and Gary Barlow are the names that are being talked about to fill the vacancies.'

They are on Saturday and Sunday nights, so Cowell will be able to appear on the American series, which will be on air on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

ITV has agreed to fly him to and from the United States by private jet twice a week between October and December. Cowell, who was in London this week, had a meeting with Fincham on Thursday night to discuss his role in the new series.

He was said to be concerned that leaving the British series, which was watched by about 12million viewers a week last year, could lead to a ratings fall, leaving The X Factor brand as a whole weakened.

The talks, which took place at a secret location, went on late into the night and an ITV source described the discussions as 'very positive and very fruitful'.

All is set to be revealed regarding the U.S. X Factor and the UK show this week.

Cheryl Cole finally confirmed for The X Factor?



source:dailymail