Cheryl Cole: 'X Factor' Judge Confirmed

In an anti-climactic announcement Thursday morning, Simon Cowell confirmed that Cheryl Cole, a British pop singer he helped launched to stardom, would be a judge on his import singing competition, "The X Factor."

Cole, a judge on the British version of "The X Factor," gushed about her excitement to cross the pond in a statement released to the press.

"I'm so excited to be taking part in the American version of 'The X Factor.' I absolutely love it here in the U.K., and with the talent they have out in America, I'm sure we're going to find someone very special. I can't wait to get started. I just can't decide whether I am more excited to find and nurture the talent or for the unbelievable amount of amusement and entertainment I will have watching Simon doing everything and anything he can to beat me. He's tried to beat me for three years in the U.K., and hasn't even come close. His ego must be so bruised. America is gonna love this."

The show's format calls for each judge to nurture and advise contestants, similar to NBC's new singing show, "The Voice." Cole joins former Def Jam executive LA Reid at the judge's table; there will be a third judge named soon, and speculation is centering on Cowell's former "American Idol" co-star Paula Abdul.

Cowell told Deadline.com a number of weeks ago that he wanted Cole on the show, and that she would be a hit in the US.

And with Cheryl, when I hired her initially, I'd only met her literally once when I offered her the job on [British] X Factor. I thought she was bright, cute, knew what she was talking about, ambitious. And you meet someone special a few times in your life... And this girl is special. She's just got a great ability to communicate. She's a great judge. She's smart. It's just a hunch. If people take to her like the British public did, I think she's going to do really well in America. And Fox was desperate to hire her.

Cole is an absolute superstar in Britain; she was a member of the girls pop group Girls Aloud during the early part of last decade before moving on to a solo career. She had a high profile marriage -- and then divorce -- with Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole.

For more, click over to The Hollywood Reporter.

Comments

[Tecla Robinson]

02:32 PM on 05/06/2011

who?????

[the grange gorman]

09:04 AM on 05/06/2011

Simon will end up marrying Cheryl , she can do no wrong in his eyes.

Cheryl has only average talent but great breasts , the public will probably take to her , teenage boys anyway.

[Kimiko Austin-Rijs]

05:42 AM on 05/06/2011

I will be so happy when people stop settling for Simom Cowells inferior crap being rained all over the air waves. This big mouth girl will fail miserably in the US I hope.

[kvolovesart]

05:10 AM on 05/06/2011

Big mistake...this is the USA Simon...not some tiny island country in Europe...the voice and AI have big American singers and you bring on some Brit no one has heard of...not the wisest decision...what is with all of these British people judging us anyway...?

[pete cole]

11:48 AM on 05/06/2011

Oh joy of joys make em ave it Simon this is retaliation for the Kardashian misfits you sent us.

[ZoeT]

07:14 PM on 05/05/2011

She said, "out in America"? Isn't that how New Yorkers refer to "the Midwest"? Have we been put in our place?

[therubberbandguy1000]

06:41 PM on 05/05/2011

The Female Chris Brown is coming over. Oh Joy. Why didn't simon pick Chris himself or C. Sheen or another domestic criminal.

[Jeffin90019]

06:30 PM on 05/05/2011

Who?

[vaf112675]

03:52 PM on 05/05/2011

Never heard of her or that group she was a part off. Has she ever charted on Billboard?

[Kimiko Austin-Rijs]

05:43 AM on 05/06/2011

Trust me, you aren't missing a thing. They have done nothing memerable.

[cismo]

03:14 PM on 05/05/2011

no metion of her assaulting black toilet attendant and calling her a disgusting racial term

[NateFisher]

02:41 PM on 05/05/2011

She is one of the most beautiful women alive. The should rename it The Sex Factor. But since there are rumors that Nicole Washername from Pussycat Dolls and Paula Abdul might be joining too, well maybe that name is not such a great idea after all.

[Seaniebhoy]

01:46 PM on 05/05/2011

The show should be called a Geordie chav in L.A….I noticed the story doesn’t mention her assault conviction in England…wonder how she got a visa?

[Jamie Noir]

03:59 PM on 05/05/2011

As a Geordie I take great offence at you using the word 'Chav' like that. In Newcastle we call them Charva's, not Chav's. Get it right.

[Seaniebhoy]

04:45 PM on 05/05/2011

Nothin but love for those from the Tyneside

[scorpioman]

01:07 PM on 05/05/2011

will she be in a bikini?

[onionboy]

12:33 PM on 05/05/2011

Does the world really need another one of these shows?

[PowerPridePinstripes]

02:23 PM on 05/05/2011

I hear ya -- but sadly my friend - it's an epidemic.

[onionboy]

03:06 PM on 05/05/2011

I know. I've watched a couple of American Idol seasons. And I also watched one about 7-8 years ago where they were actually looking for the WORST singer but told them they were looking for the best. That was cruel but funny. I remember two of the judges were Tone Loc and Vitamin C. The funniest part was in the early auditions when great singers would audition and totally nail it and the judges would just be like "Get out of here. I never want to see you again."

[Kimiko Austin-Rijs]

05:42 AM on 05/06/2011

No. Only a matter of time before the people revolt and storm the castle.

[ethiopia1a]

12:31 PM on 05/05/2011

This show is going be boring why we need another singing competition?

[xxangi1979xx]

12:04 PM on 05/05/2011

Never heard of her, or her band. Another singing show? Lovely. Why don't they just call it "Who Wants to Be the Next Greatest Karaoke Singer"? Yawn...