In potentially worrying news for Nicole Scherzinger, Cheryl Cole has flown to Los Angeles for showdown talks with Simon Cowell about returning to x factor. The show has been blighted by poor viewing figures, poor acts and a pretty appalling judging panel this year and Cowell is ready to bring back the Girls Aloud star.

It's thought that either Cowell himself or Cole must return to the judging panel for the show to regain any sort of credibility. Gary Barlow hasn't made the grade as head judge, while Nicole Scherzinger doesn't appear to be gelling with the British public. Louis Walsh is never going to leave, so there's little point in even speculating. Anyway, it's likely that either Nicole or Gary will leave at the end of the current season, paving the way for Cheryl to get back into the hot seat. The Geordie singer arrived at Simon Cowell's Los Angeles mansion at 8pm on Wednesday (November 28, 2012) and stayed for three-and-a-half hours, according to the Daily Mirror. It is thought the two were discussing Cheryl's return to X Factor, which Cowell sees as a way of reinvigorating the ailing show. The meeting comes 18 months after he sensationally sacked Cheryl from the US version of the singing show after just a couple of weeks of auditions. 

In his recent biography, Cowell he admitted falling for Cole during their time working together. The music mogul, 52, told friends he was "mesmerised" by Cheryl, adding, "I would have liked an affair with her. I felt like a mouse being played with by a beautiful cat."  Bit weird.

A source close to the pair said they were just "shooting the breeze" during their latest meeting, though we wouldn't be surprised if Cole's X Factor return is announced pretty soon.