Cheryl Cole - one of the biggest celebrity names in the UK despite taking several years out of the limelight - has confirmed she is returning to The X-Factor UK after signing a reported £1.5 million deal.  Cole fell out with series creator Simon Cowell after he sacked her from The X-Factor USA after just weeks in the job. The American version of Cowell's hugely successful UK singing show struggled for ratings and was eventually cancelled.

Cheryl ColeCheryl Cole Is Returning to the X-Factor UK

Cowell has signalled his intention to return to the UK judging panel and appears to have convinced Cheryl to join him. Though the media had a field day with the apparent bad blood between the pair following the stateside debacle, it's clear that relations have been far more civil and Cowell will no doubt will be using the quasi-feud to sell the latest season of the show. 

A source told the Daily Mirror: "Over the last 18 months, Cheryl and Simon have got back in touch and slowly repaired their relationship. 

"And in January they had dinner with Peter Fincham at Simon's London house. 

"There has been to-ing and fro-ing but the deal was finally done in the last 48 hours.

Watch Simon Cowell with Demi Lovato, promoting the X-Factor USA:

Season 10 of the show averaged 9.45 million viewers, the lowest since Season 4 and a clear indication that the viewers are growing tired of the X-Factor format, which has remained relatively unchanged since the beginning of the show. Though Cowell and company are clearly on the hunt for another One Direction windfall, the last series was won by 36-year-old prison officer Sam Bailey who impressed with her strong, if unoriginal vocals.