Despite rumours of infighting, Cheryl Cole’s continuing success and Kimberly Walsh’s stage ambitions, Girls Aloud are confirmed to be returning with new material and a nationwide tour. Now, it has emerged that Cheryl’s forthcoming appearance on Strictly Come Dancing will be anything but a solo performance.

According to insiders, the pop superstar will be joined by band-mates Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle and current Strictly contestant Kimberly Walsh. “It's an amazing slap in the face for Simon Cowell and proves that Cheryl really wants Strictly to beat her old show,” an insider privy to the deal told the Daily Star. Though the media appear set on reporting a Cole versus X Factor feud (Cowell famously sacked her from the U.S version of the show), it didn’t stop the Geordie singer from signing up as Gary Barlow’s sidekick for the ITV show. Nevertheless, it seems the girl-group have decided on the BBC as the stage for their return and it’s likely they will sing live on the show in November (when Cole was initially pencilled in to perform her single Screw You). Kimberly may well still be in contention for the Strictly crown by then; currently she’s the second favourite with the bookies at 10-3. British athlete Louis Smith remains the favourite at 9-4.

Kimberley, Nicola and Cheryl were photographed together at the Whisky Mist nightclub in London on Sunday evening (Oct 7, 2012), following the latter’s solo show at the O2 arena.