‘She’s still in discussions with bosses’: Nicole Scherzinger denies quitting The X Factor to make way for Cheryl Cole

Nicole Scherzinger has not quit The X Factor despite reports claiming she wanted to focus on her music this year instead (Picture: PA)

EXCLUSIVE: Nicole Scherzinger has denied quitting The X Factor to make way for Cheryl Cole, revealing she’s still very much in discussions with show bosses.

Sensational claims she’d quit after two years on the judging panel to focus solely on her music emerged this morning, but her spokesman has now rubbished these reports and insisted she hasn’t made a decision yet.
‘Nicole hasn’t quit the show,’ her spokesman told Metro.co.uk. ‘She is still in discussions with bosses.’
The rumours came just days after Simon Cowell confirmed his anticipated return to the ITV show and her apparent departure only seemed to strengthen claims Cheryl is getting ready for a comeback as well.

Nicole has judged the show for two years (Picture: ITV)

The Hawaiian-born singer, who hasn’t had an album out for three years, was said to be planning to focus entirely on her music.
A pal of hers was quoted telling The Sun: ‘It breaks her heart, but Nicole is sad not to be able to go back to the show this year. She has agonised over this decision for months.
‘She put her music career on hold last year but now she has to focus on her music.’
But it seems the judging line-up is still all to play for.
MORE: 11 reasons we’d miss Nicole if she left The X Factor

Last year’s X Factor line-up comprised of Gary Barlow, NIcole Scherzinger, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh (Picture: ITV)

Cowell quit the UK version of his show to launch a version in the US in 2011. But after a three-year break, he’s back.
In a statement last week he said: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be returning to The X Factor UK. It’s been three years since I last judged the competition and I’m excited to find a global superstar again.
‘The UK X Factor has set the benchmark in finding worldwide superstars over the years including One Direction, Leona Lewis, Cher Lloyd, Olly Murs, JLS and Little Mix.’
He added: ‘Despite all the rumours, ITV and the producers have not decided on the rest of the judging panel quite yet. You’ll just have to wait and see…’

Simon has confirmed he will be back – but will Cheryl be returning too? (Picture: ITV)

And this week, speaking at the Britain’s Got Talent launch, he finally confirmed Geordie Chez has been in talks with him about a return.
He said: ‘To be fair to Cheryl, it hasn’t been about the money with her. It’s about whether she wants to do it and whether she can handle the pressure, so I’m not quite sure yet [if she will come back].’
Si is hoping to recreate the magic of his last year on the show in 2010 – the year Simon, Cheryl, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh were on the panel and the same year One Direction were formed. A staggering 19million viewers tuned into the 2010 final – compared to last year’s 11.5million who watched the final show