Cheryl Cole To Make The X Factor UK Return As Gary Barlow's Guest Mentor?

8 September 2012, 10:31 | Updated: 8 September 2012, 10:36

The 'Under The Sun' singer has allegedly agreed to help mentor Gary Barlow's category at judges houses.

Cheryl Cole is reportedly set to make a return to The X Factor UK this year as Gary Barlow's guest mentor on the new series of the show.

The 'Call My Name' singer served as a judge on the ITV1 show between 2008 and 2011, before leaving to join The X Factor USA for a short stint last year.

Cheryl has allegedly agree to join Take That frontman Gary at the Judges Houses stage of the competition as part of a "top secret" plan that even ITV bosses and Simon Cowell were said to be unaware of.

"Only Gary's intimate inner circle know," a source revealed to The Sun today (8th September). "He hasn't even discussed it with Simon or ITV bosses.

"It's been seriously top secret stuff."

It is claimed Gary and Cheryl came up with the idea while working together on their duet for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations back in June.

They added: "[Cheryl] loved the mischief of it."

Simon Cowell has since added further fuel to the rumours after he posted a comment on Twitter suggesting he is aware of Cheryl's potential involvement, although it is unknown whether his message was serious or meant in jest.

The Syco boss tweeted: "Welcome back Cheryl. X"

The live shows for The X Factor UK are expected to begin airing around October while the Judges Houses section will air in the coming weeks, with names including Ne-Yo, Sharon Osbourne and Tinie Tempah all rumoured to be making an appearance.

Check out a picture of Cheryl Cole out at a fashion event this week in London below (Credit: Getty):

'Parachutes' singer Cheryl confirmed last week that 'Screw You' will be the next single to be released from her album 'A Million Lights', following the success of 'Under The Sun'.

Cheryl Cole will kick off her brand new UK arena tour with a show in Belfast on 3rd October.