Cheryl Colewill open up about her marriage breakdown in an intimate interview with Dannii Minogueto appear on Morgan’s successful Will.I.Am. The hour-long interview will air on December 11 after the X Factor semi-final.

A source close to the Promise This singer said she was Piers’ top choice of interviewee: “Every time Cheryl sees Piers, she says he pesters her non-stop to agree to do the chat. He’s spent months trying to convince her and in the end she gave in over a dinner hosted at Simon’s house in LA.

“Afterwards Cheryl joked that half the reason she agreed was just to get him off her back. But on a serious note, she says she feels ready now to lay a few ghosts to rest. It’s been a tumultuous year and as it draws to a close she wants to use this one interview to put everything out there in her own words then slam the door shut on 2010.”

Piers has also revealed that Cowell wants both Cheryl and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger to join him on the judging panel of American X Factor next year. "He'll love a couple of feisty brunettes fighting over him," Morgan said.

In January, Piers flies to New York to replace veteran broadcaster Larry King on CNN in a reported £5.5m deal.