Cheryl Cole 'Happy & Excited' About X Factor Return

Four years after leaving the show, Cheryl Cole will return as a judge on The X Factor this year!

Cheryl has signed a lucrative deal reportedly worth £1.5million to return to the talent show for its eleventh season alongside Simon Cowell.

The 30-year-old Girls Aloud and solo star was a judge on The X Factor from series five to series seven and won the show on two consecutive years – in 2008 with Alexandra Burke and 2009 with Joe McElderry.

Enthusing about her return, Cheryl said: “I’m very happy and excited to be returning to The X Factor. I’m inspired and ready to find new talent and potential pop stars. It’s going to be a fun series.”

X Factor head honcho Simon Cowell, who folded the US version of the show this year, added: "I am so happy that Cheryl has agreed to join The X Factor again.

“The last time we worked together in the UK was incredible and produced some really successful artists. Obviously the plan is to do the same again… so it's back to work!"

And Elaine Bedell, ITV’s director of comedy and entertainment, said, "We're thrilled to be announcing Cheryl's return to The X Factor panel - she was an extremely popular judge who struck a real chord with our viewers, and we're looking forward to welcoming her back on screen this autumn."

The other members of the judging panel will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

Auditions for the new series of The X Factor take place from April until the end of the summer before it hits the TV screens in the autumn.

Since it began in September 2004, stars that have emerged on The X Factor have sold in excess of 150million records between them.

Pic: Fred Duval/Getty