Simon Cowell wants Cole on US X Factor

Cheryl Cole will be a judge on American X Factor if Simon Cowell “has his way”, the music mogul’s spokesman said.

The 27-year-old’s role on the US version of the talent show was thrown into doubt this week after reports she had been axed.

But according to the publicist Max Clifford, Mr Cowell has wanted her on the panel “from the start”.

He said he had spoken to Mr Cowell, who told him: “I want Cheryl Cole on the show.”

Mr Clifford said the Syco chief is in discussions with the producers across the Atlantic, but he does not have the final say.

Speaking to Sky News, the PR guru said Mr Cowell insisted: “I’ve made that clear from the start, I’ve made it clear to everybody at Fox and Fremantle, the people involved, that my choice would be to have Cheryl Cole on the show.”

He said stories in the press reporting “Simon Cowell Sacks Cheryl” were “totally wrong and totally misleading”.

“If he has his way, she will be on the show,” he said.

“But, he’s an important part of a very important team, so obviously there are other people with very strong views, as in Fox Television, as in Fremantle, and that’s what’s being discussed at the moment.”

According to reports, Ms Cole could take her place alongside the other judges this week, when the auditions start again in New Jersey tomorrow.

Mr Clifford said Mr Cowell believes the Geordie will be a “huge hit” in the US.

He added: “Whether Cheryl will be back or not, we will know hopefully, sooner rather than later.”

Some commentators have suggested the uncertainty of the judging situation is deliberately engineered by Mr Cowell to increase publicity for the show, but Mr Clifford rubbished those claims.

“It’s certainly not Simon Cowell hype, as someone that has looked after Simon for 10 years,” he said.

“I think he’s had more headaches over this situation than probably anything in the previous 10 years.”