Only a month ago Simon Cowell told the world Cheryl Cole was ‘special’.
Last night, however, the TV mogul and the pop star were at war – through their ‘people’ – amid claims her advisers demanded £2.5million for her to return to the UK X Factor after her shock axing from the U.S. version of the show.
It came after ITV issued a statement confirming that the Girls Aloud star will not feature in its judging panel for the TV talent contest.
Last night, however, the TV mogul and the pop star were at war – through their ‘people’ – amid claims her advisers demanded £2.5million for her to return to the UK X Factor after her shock axing from the U.S. version of the show.
It came after ITV issued a statement confirming that the Girls Aloud star will not feature in its judging panel for the TV talent contest.
Allies: Cheryl with her new manager Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas who is believed to have demanded the huge fee for her to return to X Factor
Cowell himself has remained unusually silent on the issue – other than a subtle reference on last night’s Britain’s Got Talent, where he also raised eyebrows by arriving for a turn as guest judge in a suit and unbuttoned shirt which bared his hairy chest.
But according to senior sources at both his production company Syco, and ITV, associates of Mrs Cole believed to be led by pop star William Adams – known as Will.i.am and who became her manager a month ago – wanted the broadcaster to agree to the huge fee.
ITV, however, was apparently prepared only to match the singer’s £1.5million fee from last year’s series, despite having already provisionally decided its new judging panel.
Open neck: Cowell - baring his hairy chest - returned to BGT last night
The dispute was further clouded when a close friend of Mrs Cole’s insisted she never had any intention of returning to the UK show and told how Adams is furious with Cowell over Mrs Cole’s sacking – after just four days on the U.S. show.
The friend said: ‘Will.i.am doesn’t want her to have anything to do with Cowell anymore. Cowell thought she would come running back and take the UK job – but why would she when she’s been hung out to dry in the U.S..’
Since her humiliating sacking, Mrs Cole has been uncontactable – with sources suggesting she did not even know of the demands allegedly being made on her behalf.
She has refused to take telephone calls from TV executives, including Cowell.
Some reports even claimed she may have been suffering from ‘depression’ when she headed to America. This was dismissed by friends. Others have claimed that Mrs Cole remains distraught that her marriage to Chelsea and England footballer Ashley Cole collapsed.
One U.S. TV source said: ‘She was like a little girl lost in America. It was as if she lost her mojo completely.’
The singer – who has in the past admitted to having once suffered ‘clinical depression’ – is believed to be holed up at a London flat with her mother Joan Callaghan.
Frustrated executives at ITV finally abandoned all attempts at a last-ditch deal on Sunday afternoon.
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Within hours, it was confirmed that Tulisa Contostavlos – from pop band N-Dubz – was joining the show alongside Louis Walsh, U.S. pop star Kelly Rowland and Take That singer Gary Barlow.
An X Factor source revealed: ‘There was a Plan A we already had which we’re happy with and is a great team. It got to a point with Cheryl where we had to move on.
Happier times: Cheryl and Simon smile together on the judging panel of the X Factor in December 2009
‘It was her decision to go to the U.S. and it did not work out. The bottom line is the line-up we’ve got we are happy with.’
Last night, ITV and Syco issued a statement to confirm the quartet as the four judges. Auditions are due to start tomorrow.
Talking of the new judging panel, Cowell said: ‘These four are totally up for it, each of them brings a different attitude. They have had a ton of hits between them and they are all committed to finding a star.
‘I have a feeling Louis and Tulisa will have slightly different points of view as to what the next star should look and sound like.’
That public statement also signalled the end of Cowell and Mrs Cole’s professional relationship, which began when she joined the X Factor in 2008.
Even a month ago, he said of Mrs Cole: ‘She’s got a great ability to communicate. She’s a great judge. She’s smart. You meet someone special a few times in your life and this girl is special.’
Within days of that comment, Mrs Cole had surprisingly axed Hilary Shaw – her manager since 2005 – to hand control to Mr Adams, who has found worldwide fame with the Black Eyed Peas.
Cowell himself has remained unusually silent on the issue – other than a subtle reference on last night’s Britain’s Got Talent, where he also raised eyebrows by arriving for a turn as guest judge in a suit and unbuttoned shirt which bared his hairy chest.
But according to senior sources at both his production company Syco, and ITV, associates of Mrs Cole believed to be led by pop star William Adams – known as Will.i.am and who became her manager a month ago – wanted the broadcaster to agree to the huge fee.
ITV, however, was apparently prepared only to match the singer’s £1.5million fee from last year’s series, despite having already provisionally decided its new judging panel.
Open neck: Cowell - baring his hairy chest - returned to BGT last night
The dispute was further clouded when a close friend of Mrs Cole’s insisted she never had any intention of returning to the UK show and told how Adams is furious with Cowell over Mrs Cole’s sacking – after just four days on the U.S. show.
The friend said: ‘Will.i.am doesn’t want her to have anything to do with Cowell anymore. Cowell thought she would come running back and take the UK job – but why would she when she’s been hung out to dry in the U.S..’
Since her humiliating sacking, Mrs Cole has been uncontactable – with sources suggesting she did not even know of the demands allegedly being made on her behalf.
She has refused to take telephone calls from TV executives, including Cowell.
Some reports even claimed she may have been suffering from ‘depression’ when she headed to America. This was dismissed by friends. Others have claimed that Mrs Cole remains distraught that her marriage to Chelsea and England footballer Ashley Cole collapsed.
One U.S. TV source said: ‘She was like a little girl lost in America. It was as if she lost her mojo completely.’
The singer – who has in the past admitted to having once suffered ‘clinical depression’ – is believed to be holed up at a London flat with her mother Joan Callaghan.
Frustrated executives at ITV finally abandoned all attempts at a last-ditch deal on Sunday afternoon.
More...
'Lose two stone if you want to be a success', Cheryl Cole told ahead of U.S. X Factor appearance
It's official: Cheryl Cole is OUT of the UK X Factor and Tulisa and Kelly Rowland are IN as official judging line-up is announced
He's back! Simon Cowell makes return on Britain's Got Talent - and gets ribbed by Ant and Dec over Cheryl Cole's X Factor sacking
Within hours, it was confirmed that Tulisa Contostavlos – from pop band N-Dubz – was joining the show alongside Louis Walsh, U.S. pop star Kelly Rowland and Take That singer Gary Barlow.
An X Factor source revealed: ‘There was a Plan A we already had which we’re happy with and is a great team. It got to a point with Cheryl where we had to move on.
Happier times: Cheryl and Simon smile together on the judging panel of the X Factor in December 2009
‘It was her decision to go to the U.S. and it did not work out. The bottom line is the line-up we’ve got we are happy with.’
Last night, ITV and Syco issued a statement to confirm the quartet as the four judges. Auditions are due to start tomorrow.
Talking of the new judging panel, Cowell said: ‘These four are totally up for it, each of them brings a different attitude. They have had a ton of hits between them and they are all committed to finding a star.
‘I have a feeling Louis and Tulisa will have slightly different points of view as to what the next star should look and sound like.’
That public statement also signalled the end of Cowell and Mrs Cole’s professional relationship, which began when she joined the X Factor in 2008.
Even a month ago, he said of Mrs Cole: ‘She’s got a great ability to communicate. She’s a great judge. She’s smart. You meet someone special a few times in your life and this girl is special.’
Within days of that comment, Mrs Cole had surprisingly axed Hilary Shaw – her manager since 2005 – to hand control to Mr Adams, who has found worldwide fame with the Black Eyed Peas.
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