Cheryl Cole: "Tulisa Contostavlos Is Lovely"

8 November 2011, 11:24 | Updated: 8 November 2011, 11:33

The former X Factor panelist says she is on good terms with her N-Dubz replacement.

Cheryl Cole says she is a big fan of new X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos.

The 'Promise This' singer says she doesn't understand why people expect her and Tulisa to dislike each other.

In her first interview since losing her judging post on the X Factor USA, Cheryl claimed any rumours of tension between her and the N-Dubz singer are untrue.

"She's lovely, I've known her for years," Cheryl told InStyle. "She came to my birthday party.

"You know what's funny? People are surprised I say I'll be watching and that I'm a fan of Tulisa's, but all they know is what they read in the gossip magazines and it tends to be crap."

"They base their opinion on something they have no knowledge of," Cheryl explained. "They don't know the facts or the truth and it drives me mad."

Cheryl also revealed Simon Cowell originally offered her a job on Britain's Got Talent before asking her to join the UK edition of The X Factor in 2008.

The singer is due to film a cameo appearance in romantic-comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting, opposite Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez.

Read the Cheryl Cole feature in full feature in the December issue of InStyle, which goes on sale Thursday (10^th November).