Cheryl Cole’sX Factor – she pulled out of boot camp to aid her recovery, but was set to be back in time for the judges' houses stage and live shows. But now the Daily Star claims the Girls Aloud singer is considering quitting the show.

“There’s a small chance Cheryl may not return to The X Factor at all this year,” a source told the tabloid. “There was talk of her possibly leaving at the end of the current series so she could concentrate on cracking the US and also be a judge on American X Factor. But with her illness she might not even come back for this series.

“Cheryl is still frail and has no idea when she will be strong enough to come back to work,” the source said. “She also needs to find time to promote her music worldwide, so something had to give – and that looks likely to be her spot on the UK show.”