Gary Barlow secretly signed up Cheryl Cole to guest judge on the X Factor

By On 09/08/2012 · 7 Comments · In X Factor UK

Share on TumblrShare via email

British national treasure back on the X Factor!

Head judge Gary Barlow has pulled off a successful secret plan behind Simon’s back that will bring Cheryl Cole back to the X Factor.

The 29-year-old Geordie will return to the ITV1 show as a mentor for the Take That star’s acts at the judges’ houses stage.

Gary, 41, wanted the news kept quiet as to not annoy or anger Cowell, who Cole famously fell out with after he axed her from his US version of the show.

The plans were so cloak and dagger that Barlow went to the extent of making people believe that Robbie Williams would be he surprise mentor.

An X Factor source told The Sun newspaper: ‘Only Gary’s intimate inner circle know. He hasn’t even discussed it with Simon or ITV bosses. It’s been seriously top secret stuff.

‘They’re all under the impression it’s going to be Robbie. No one even noticed the dates for the recording clashed with Robbie’s new solo tour.’

Gary apparently got Cheryl to agree to the show as the two stars relaxed over a drink following their duet at the Buckingham Palace concert he organised in June for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Gary Barlow is mentoring the Overs this year.

Soulful star Ne-Yo will help out Nicole Scherzinger and the Boys during her stop in Dubai, and Tinie Tempah will team up with Tulisa and the Girls in the Caribbean.

Louis Walsh, who is mentoring the Bands, will be joined by ex-judge Sharon Osbourne in Las Vegas.

Source: The Daily Mail

 
  • http://twitter.com/BamadansPad Danny Latham

    I guess we know why Simon went on a drunken Twitter spree. He must have found out(or regretted allowance of this leak to the UK tabloids).  

  • springboard2

    This is ridiculous, of course ITV knows about it since they are the ones who will pay her salary! It’s all part of the pretend controversies and bickering amongst the judges and/or producers, that the tabloids relish and happily go along with.

    And it is also probably part of the last minute changes destined to improve the flagging ratings.

  • TheGreatXL

    I’m just happy to see Cheryl again! <3

  • http://twitter.com/LindsayKempFan Not fit to print

    I loved Cheryl Cole the one season I saw her on UK X Factor and I wish Idol had seriously considered her for their panel. I can see why Cheryl might hate Simon but it was the network that didn’t want her so these two can probably patch it up (or they already have, as some people here are suggesting).

    More’s the pity for AI because she’s young, she’s current and she was a GOOD judge. And they probably could have got her for a lot less than Mariah.

  • tomr

    Love Cheryl…she’s so much better than Nikki so bring her to Idol.

  • Guest

    this is called a planted story:/

  • Goodie2

    this story is hard to believe. Barlow is not a producer on the show, and I’m sure either the producers and or Simon need to approve something like this. Especially if Cole expects to be paid