cheryl coleGirls Aloud’s Cheryl Cole has confirmed that she is going to take over from Sharon Osbourne as a judge on The X Factor.

Sharon quit the show last week after producers refused her £500,000 pay rise demand. The increase would have taken Sharon’s pay for the show to £2million, which even she now admits is excessive.

Cheryl is said to have signed a deal worth £800,000 to replace the music manager turned reality TV mum on the show and is set to start work at auditions for the show from tomorrow.

Speaking about her new job, the singer - who started her rise to fame on the talent show Popstars: The Rivals - explained: “I’m so excited, although it’s scary joining a huge programme.

“The rest of the girls are right behind me. But it will be weird to be on the other side of the fence this time.”

But Cheryl might not find the same level of support behind the judging desk: Cheryl and fellow judge Dannii Minogue have previously engaged in a war of words over Dannii’s plastic surgery and Cheryl’s “punch-ups and court appearance”.

Last night though, Dannii told the Sun that she is “absolutely thrilled” about the new appointment: “I called Cheryl as soon as I heard to congratulate her.”