Girl Aloud Cheryl Cole – her own career the result of a pop talent show, of course – is reportedly being sounded out to take over from Sharon Osbourne as a judge on 'X Factor'. Or at least that's what Sharon herself says she's heard. She added that she had also heard producers were talking to former Spice Girl Mel B about the role too – as reported in yesterday's Daily.
She told this to Chris Moyles in an interview about her decision to quit as a judge. Amid rumours of pay disputes and an out of control feud with Dannii Minogue, the fourth judge on the last series, Osbourne told Chris Moyles on Radio 1: "I loved it [being a judge]. They were the best four years of my life but I've got to do something else right now". Asked about the rumours she quit over the pay offer, she said: "We were negotiating and they offered me an obscene amount of money. It didn't change anything. I had to walk away when I did. I love the show, I love everybody there, the producers, Simon [Cowell] but it's just time to move on".
Osbourne said she thought Cole would make a good new judge on the show, though some commentators question whether she could do it anyway given Girls Aloud are due to go back into the studio to work on a new album this summer. Sharon didn't comment on the other person who has reportedly been approached about the X Factor judging role, Lulu.
In related news, the Sun is reporting that Osbourne is being lined up as a contestant on the BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing'.