Nicole ScherzingerCheryl 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 SistersfrontmanPussycat 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’sLouis 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."