By LIZZIE SMITH, BEN TODD, ANDREA MAGRATH, PAUL REVOIR and ALISON BOSHOFF
Low profile: Cheryl Cole, pictured earlier this month at Cannes airport, has gone into hiding following her sacking from the U.S. X Factor
ITV 'eager for her to return to British judges panel'
Has fled the U.S. and is back in the UK
Show co-host Nicole Scherzinger will take her place on judges panel in U.S.
Her accent stopped U.S. audiences understanding her say TV bosses
Cheryl Cole is ready to snub Simon Cowell’s offer to return as a judge on the British X Factor panel after being dumped from the U.S. version of the show.
Back-up offer: Cheryl Cole is said to be furious with Cowell and plans to snub his offer of her old job on UK X Factor
ITV is eager for her to return to their edition of the programme, with Cowell believed to be instrumental in the move.
However Cheryl is so angry at her treatment by American X Factor bosses – including Cowell – that she is now considering turning her back on the show.
Mrs Cole has gone into hiding following her devastating sacking from the U.S. X factor.
Yet to sign: Kelly Rowland (left) and Tulisa Contostavlos are expected to join Louis Walsh and Gary Barlow on the UK judges panel
The 27-year-old was last seen in public on May 19 at the last auditions in Chicago.
Both the X Factor and Cole's spokespeople are still refusing to comment on Cheryl's unceremonious departure, however Cheryl is thought to have been informed of the decision by the network on Tuesday and is believed to have fled the States.
She is believed to now be back in the UK and is remaining behind closed doors - meanwhile Cheryl's apparent replacement Nicole Scherzinger was pictured strolling through LAX airport just hours before the reports emerged last night with a very telling smile on her face.
Simon Cowell is understood to be in a less than sunny mood though - inside sources today claimed that the show supremo is suffering from a 'bad migraine'.
Delighted: Scherzinger leaves Los Angeles airport LAX yesterday with a wide smile on her face
Studio bosses had demanded immediate changes and it was decided Cheryl, who is relatively unknown in America, was dispensable. There was also concern that her Geordie accent would be hard for U.S. viewers to understand.
A close friend of the star’s said: ‘Cheryl is furious. This is another slap in the face. She moved to America in full public glare – and now she’s being asked to come back to do the UK again. She feels hurt and let down.’
Ready to go: Cheryl looked excited as she arrived for day two of the auditions in Chicago earlier this month
Nevertheless, ITV sources were last night hopeful she may still return. According to a senior source, ‘plenty of phone-calls are going on’. However, he admitted any deal would have to be done ‘bloody quickly’ as the auditions for the British series are due to begin next week.
One ITV insider said: ‘Of course we would be glad to have her back. She is Cheryl Cole.’
He added: ‘Would the British audience welcome her back? I believe they would. There would be a sense of this is where you belong.
‘But let’s be honest. She will have to decide very quickly. We are doing auditions next week.’
Experienced: Scherzinger had previously replaced Cole on the UK X Factor when she was seriously ill with malaria
The big reveal: Steve Jones, Scherzinger, L.A Reid, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Cole pose as they prepare to record the first audition show last month
Changing styles: Cheryl arrived for the first day of auditions wearing a bright outfit and massive hair before toning things down for a more demure look as auditions continued
When Cole's role on the show was announced the former UK X Factor judge said: 'Cheryl’s perfect for England - she’s the nation’s sweetheart and they absolutely love her.
'But over here it’s Nicole’s town. You have to think of the audience and most of them would never have heard of Girls Aloud. Nicole’s great TV, has a huge following here in the States and people absolutely love her. Plus she’s beautiful and talented.'
This will not be the first time Scherzinger has worked as an X Factor judge.
She was brought in to replace Dannii Minogue on the UK X Factor last year while the Australian singer was on maternity leave.
Cowell then brought Scherzinger back onto the UK X Factor judging panel to replace Cole when she was seriously ill with malaria last year.
At the time there were press reports that Cole was furious with the decision and even texted Simon asking: ‘Why did you get her?’
X Factor..Cheryl cole is out
British pop star Cheryl Cole dropped from judging panel of the US version of The X Factor
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source: dailymail