The X Factor Is Already Down a Judge? (At Least It Isn't Paula...)

Cheryl Cole has reportedly been dropped from the show. Want to know why?

By Natalie Finn May 26, 2011 3:24 AMTags
Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, X FactorITV

Simon Cowell's The X Factor is primed to take over America this fall. But one judge from the U.K. import seems to have been lost in translation.

Cheryl Cole, we hardly knew ye!

The British pop star and veteran judge of The X Factor in England has reportedly left the show partway through the audition process, and you won't believe why!

Or, maybe you will.

TMZ, which first reported the switcheroo, cited a source that said Cole wasn't meshing well with the other female judge in Cowell's life, Paula Abdul. That, and there were supposedly concerns that Cole's thick accent (she's from the very romantic-sounding Newcastle upon Tyne) would be too tough for American audiences to understand. 

Er, thanks for looking out, X Factor, but we probably could have coped.

Anyway, to fill the empty chair alongside Cowell, Abdul and L.A. Reid, producers didn't have to look far: Nicole Scherzinger, who was going to cohost the show with Steve Jones (who's Welsh, and will apparently need subtitles), will join the judges instead.

Fox had no comment, of course, but when Cole doesn't show up for work tomorrow...we'll know why.