Cheryl Cole's £3m U.S. deal as singer signs up for American X Factor launch

By SARA NATHAN

Bye bye: Cheryl Cole will join Simon Cowell on the U.S. X Factor


One of her acts was sent home this weekend, but it seems Cheryl Cole still has something to celebrate.

The 27-year-old has discovered that she’s landed a place on the judging panel of the U.S. version of the X Factor, according to a source, in a deal worth up to £3million.

An insider had already suggested that Cole was a ‘good bet’ to join Simon Cowell on the show next year.

But on Saturday night, Mrs Cole was officially offered the job, the source said, only a week after executives from U.S. television network Fox flew in to watch the ITV talent show – and the judge – in action.

Cowell, 51, last week revealed that he planned to announce the judges for the U.S. version in December.

The multi-millionaire said: ‘I’m going to make an announcement within three or four weeks, which is going to tell everyone everything. There will be some surprises.’
He then revealed: ‘OK, one of the judges has quite long hair.’

Singer Nicole Scherzinger, who performed her new single Poison on Sunday night’s show, is also a favourite to join the judging panel after a successful stint standing in for Dannii Minogue at the auditions this summer.


Cheryl with her category on Sunday's results show: She joined the show two years ago


Mrs Cole is said to be keen to launch her music career in the U.S. and flew to meet record bosses at Universal earlier this month. They want to release her second solo album, Messy Little Raindrops, there next year.

Cowell helped the singer make the move away from her pop band Girls Aloud when he handed her the X Factor role two years ago.

Since then she has launched a successful solo music career – and increased her fame.
Mrs Cole, who has an estimated £10million fortune, will earn £1.5million for this series of the X Factor – but will make up to twice as much from her U.S. television deal, as the budget for the show is considerably larger.

She is already accustomed to the U.S. lifestyle, having spent weeks in Los Angeles working on her music and spending time with her close friend Derek Hough as she recovered from malaria.


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She was in California as her divorce from her footballer husband Ashley Cole was finalised in October.

Friends of Mrs Cole said she was planning to make this series of the British X Factor her last in a bid to focus on breaking America.

However, she may not have to quit the UK version for the U.S. show as it is still not confirmed when, or if, the X Factor will return to UK screens next year.

A show source said: ‘When Cheryl goes to America she will also launch her music career there too.


Big move: Cheryl's relationship with dancer Derek Hough could also be a plus for her to move to the US


‘It’s the next part of her big plan, she’s an incredibly hard worker and she will definitely get a boost by appearing on the X Factor, which is set to be a sure-fire hit.’

Cowell quit American Idol this year to focus on the launch of X Factor USA.

When the British show finishes next month, Cowell will take a holiday and then start work in the U.S.

A source said: ‘This is everything to Cowell, he has to make sure it’s right.’
An X Factor spokesman said: ‘No decision has been made yet.’


source: dailymail