Cheryl Cole has shared a snap of herself on Christmas Eve relaxing in the sun by an outdoor pool.

She captioned the pic: “My first hot Christmas. I hope you're all having a lovely Christmas Eve! Kisses...”

Although the former Girls Aloud star didn’t give any hint as to which sunny locale she was inhabiting, Cheryl is known to spend lot of time in Los Angeles, where it is currently a balmy 25 degrees.

And with rumours mounting that she is making a return to the X Factor judging panel, the Fight For My Love singer may well be getting in some R&R while she still can. Simon Cowell – Cheryl’s former X Factor co-star – recently told a radio station that he “has to find a way” to get her back on the show.

But if the Geordie star is currently in the middle of negotiations with Simon, she didn’t show it. Instead, with her hair thrown up in a cute bun, a pair of aviators reflecting the bright sky and a drink in hand, Cheryl was the picture of relaxation in the shot, which she posted on Instagram.

Yesterday Chezza also wished her ‘soldiers’ a Merry Christmas on the social networking site, posing in an over-sized basketball cap with the word ‘soldiers’ printed on it, as a tribute to her fans.

Image ©Instagram/LadyCCole