Girl Aloud Cheryl Cole has reportedly been dishing out advice to Alesha Dixon on the best ways to dish out nonsense on tedious telly talent shows. Dixon, you see, is the new judge on 'Strictly Come Dancing', the BBC show which the one time Misteeqer once competed on herself.
Her appointment has not been without controversy, because she replaces the axed Arlene Phillips, and numerous commentators, including a number of BBC insiders, have criticised producers revamping the show for being ageist, and conforming to the undeniable stereotype that in telly-land the male presenters and judges can be well past it, but when it comes to the ladies, a pretty girl is always better than a experienced expert in her sixties.
Cole, of course, also took over from an older lady when she became a judge on 'X Factor', taking over, as she did, from Sharon Osbourne. A source has told the Daily Star: "One of the first people Alesha talked to when she was offered the 'Strictly' job was Cheryl. They are really close friends and Cheryl has been there and done it, so she's the perfect person to give advice. Cheryl replaced an older star on 'X Factor' when she took over from Sharon Osbourne, so she knows what that pressure is like".
But the source added that 'X Factor' chief Simon Cowell won't be impressed with Cole giving advice to the newest recruit on his telly franchise's biggest rival. Said source added: "Simon won't be pleased if he finds out, especially as the two shows will be going head to head in the ratings this autumn". Whether that will affect rumoured plans to make Cole the frontwoman of the previously reported new entertainment/fashion powerhouse being launched by Cowell and retail tycoon Philip Green remains to be see. I reckon almost certainly not.