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According to The Mirror, Cheryl Cole has been handpicked by Simon Cowell to be on the judging panel for a new American version of reality television talent contest X Factor.

The tabloid states that Cole became aware of this news as she celebrated her 26th birthday at a £60,000 surprise party given her by husband and football star Ashley.  

Network executives from NBC are expected to fly into Manchester to meet with the singing beauty and have her audition for them.  
“Simon is on the brink of signing a deal to take the X Factor to America,” an unnamed source told the Mirror, “and, if he gets his way, Cheryl will be its star. He thinks she has amazing presence and her down-to-earth Northern charm will appeal to the American public. She is also an incredibly beautiful girl.
“She won’t get paid anything like the million pound salary she’s on here, because obviously she is not as well known in the States. But if it is a success, like most of Simon’s shows are, it could catapult her into the big league.”

Apparently Cowell will not be able to appear on the show himself because he will be tied up working on the upcoming season of American Idol.  The show airs on NBC’s rival network, FOX.  Cowell has already announced that the next season of X Factor will be his last, and he wants Cheryl to be the show’s main personality after he is gone.  
Obviously ITV is desperate for the infamous judge to stay on the show, but he is eager to move on to bigger and better things.