Sick Cheryl to miss X Factor

Cheryl Cole will not perform at next month's V Festival and has pulled out of judging the boot camp stage of The X Factor as she fights her way back to health.

The 27-year-old star contracted malaria on a trip to Tanzania last month, despite taking tablets to protect against the disease.

Ms Cole was so sick that she was kept in intensive care for part of last week but has improved and is now recovering at a private clinic.

The singer was forced to pull out of the final auditions for the television talent show in Manchester at the weekend and took the decision to cancel more work.

"Cheryl Cole is making good progress but following medical advice she will not be able to take part in X Factor's boot camp stage or perform at V," her spokesman said.

A spokesman for The X Factor said: "Cheryl will not be attending The X Factor boot camp later this month.

"Our priority is to ensure Cheryl is fit and well before she returns to work and to give our contestants a fair and proper opportunity to compete in the show."

It is not yet known if a guest judge will be brought in to help with boot camp.

Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh were joined at the Manchester auditions by Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger who had already been recruited to stand in for judge Dannii Minogue, who gave birth to her first child, son Ethan, last week.

Before Friday's auditions, Mr Walsh said: "Cheryl's not well but we have another pop princess here today."

Ms Scherzinger told the audience: "I'm sorry Cheryl is not with us but she's here in spirit and I will try to hold the girl power down."

Ms Cole was reported to have collapsed during a photoshoot for her album on July 3 and was initially diagnosed with exhaustion.

She was rushed to hospital the next day after her symptoms, including a soaring fever, worsened.

The singer was treated in intensive care at University College London Hospital, home to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, but on Friday was considered well enough to be transferred to a private clinic to continue her recovery.