Simon Cowell has confirmed for the first time that Cheryl Cole IS in negotiations to return to The X Factor.

But the reality TV supremo is reported by the Daily Mail to have told BANG Showbiz at the Britain's Got Talent auditions at London's Hammersmith Apollo yesterday that she still hasn't made her mind up.

He said: "To be fair to Cheryl, it hasn't been about the money with her.

"It's about whether she wants to do it and whether she can handle the pressure, so I'm not quite sure yet [if she will come back]."

And the famously tough negotiator appeared to admit that he'd met his match in Chezza, adding: "She had her poker face on. I thought she looked and sounded the best I've seen her in years."

SiCo was also reflective about The X Factor USA being cancelled by Fox.

"I don't know why any show would want to be in America right now - anyone - because it's too tough of a market. I mean, there's going to be, this year, something like 14 talent shows on American TV.

"I've got one of them with America's Got Talent, which, luckily, is just as good as everybody else's. It's become a joke."