Nicole Scherzinger To Replace Cheryl

Pussycat Doll is Cheryl’s replacement at X Factor boot camp...

Nicole Scherzinger has won the coveted slot as Cheryl Cole’s replacement at X Factor boot camp while the ill star recovers from malaria. The role was eyed up by Katie Price and Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears, among others.

The Pussycat Dolls singer stood in for Dannii Minogue on the judging panel at the Manchester auditions while the Aussie star is on maternity leave. Nicole impressed with her outspokenness, so when Cheryl confirmed she wouldn’t return to X Factor until the live shows, she was Simon Cowell’s first choice.

“Nicole was great in Manchester and Simon really likes her,” an insider told The Sun. “She knows Wembley will be a tougher gig, but she's proved she's feisty and entertaining.”

Despite securing Nicole, X Factor bosses decided to cancel the live aspect of boot camp, so contestants will not be performing in front of a live audience. “Due to the unusual circumstances, we are not inviting an audience to watch the contestants perform at the X Factor boot camp next week,” a spokesperson confirmed.

On a lighter note, Simon wasted no time teasing Louis Walsh for allegedly having a crush on Nicole, who dates F1 champ Lewis Hamilton. “He's definitely in love,” Simon told the Daily Star. “Louis hasn't smiled like this for a long time. He's like a lamb on a spring day – I've never seen him like this, it's very sweet. It's like a duckling who's been rescued by a dog, and the duckling then follows the dog around, thinking the dog is its mother."

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