Cheryl Cole has been named as the new addition to the X Factor judging panel.
The Girls Aloud star has stepped in to replace Sharon Osbourne, who announced she was leaving the ITV1 reality show last week.
The 55-year-old had been due to sit alongside Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue at the first round of London auditions on June 12th but pulled out shortly before filming was due to begin.
And with her experience of TV talent contests, having won a place in Girls Aloud on Popstars: The Rivals, Cole has been picked as the ideal replacement.
"I'm so excited to be part of such a great show and although it's scary joining a huge programme like the X Factor, it's a massive honour to be following in the footsteps of Sharon Osbourne," the 24-year-old said of her appointment.
"The rest of the girls have said they're right behind me, which is really important for me as it will be weird to be on the other side of the fence this time.
"So while we get started on the next album, it will be brilliant to be a judge on the X Factor."
After four years on the ITV1 show, Osbourne stepped down, saying it was "time to move on" despite the channel offering her "an obscene amount of money".
Spice Girl Mel B had been mooted as a potential replacement after Osbourne's departure, but Cole, who ITV controller of entertainment John Kaye Cooper called "an amazingly successful, sassy and talented woman", has been given the nod.
11/06/2008 09:52:26
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