Cheryl has reportedly been tipped for a return to The X Factor when the show returns to screens in 2022.
The singer, 37, quit the singing competition in 2016 to focus on her own music career but did make a few guest appearances after stepping down from the panel and also judged on another of Simon Cowell’s shows, The Greatest Dancer.
An insider said the star could be set for a TV comeback, telling The Mirror: ‘Cheryl is still very much in the Cowell fold. She trusts him and he enjoys working with her.
Time for a comeback? Cheryl has reportedly been tipped for a return to The X Factor when the show returns to screens in 2022 (pictured on the singing show in 2015)
‘He brought her back on TV with The Greatest Dancer and could do the same with the new series of X Factor.’
MailOnline has contacted Cheryl and The X Factor’s representatives for a comment.
Cheryl left the show in 2016. She first took part back in 2008 and has mentored two winners, Alexandra Burke and Joe McElderry.
The star, who shares her three-year-old son Bear with former X Factor star and One Direction member Liam Payne, did also leave the UK version in 2011 to appear on the US version however she returned to the British show for series 11 and 12.
Judging panel: The singer, 37, is thought to still be ‘very much in the Cowell fold’ as the TV mogul plans his show’s return (pictured: Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl in 2010)
Series 12, Cheryl’s final judging series, aired in 2015 and Cheryl was joined by Simon Cowell, Nick Grimshaw, and Rita Ora on the panel.
That season was considered somewhat of a disaster, with Olly Murs and late Love Island presenter Caroline Flack stepping in for usual host Dermot O’Leary.
An infamous slip-up during that year’s series also saw Olly tell one contestant that she was eliminated before she actually was – live on air.
In April 2016 Cheryl confirmed she had quit The X Factor in order to focus on her music career, telling MailOnline that her boss Simon supported her completely.
She said: ‘I have had such an amazing experience being a judge on The X Factor. I have learnt so much and enjoyed nurturing talent but I’ve missed making music and am excited to be recording again.
‘I want to thank everybody I have worked with along the way, especially Simon who I love to bits. I hope the show continues to produce stars and I wish them all the best.’
Since leaving The X Factor, Cheryl has appeared on The Greatest Dancer, however the BBC show only ran for two seasons and ended in 2019.
It is thought that The X Factor will return next year, after filming amid the pandemic made it impossible to create a 2021 series.
A source told The Mirror: ‘It’s all systems go for X Factor 2022. Bosses feel it’s been given enough of a rest and hope by next year, fans will be ready to welcome it back with open arms.’
The X Factor has suffered iffy ratings and accusations of being repetitive in recent years, and for the first time since its inception in 2004 was replaced in 2019 with an X Factor: Celebrity series.
Some time to wait! The X Factor will reportedly not return to screens until 2022 at the very earliest after halting this year when Covid hit, rendering it impossible to produce the show
It featured reality stars, actors, journalists and presenters, all vying to make a name for themselves in the world of singing – with Megan McKenna being crowned winner.
A second mini-series aired after this called X Factor: The Band, in which Simon and Nicole Scherzinger auditioned members of the public looking to be part of the next boy or girl group.
The short series ended with a girl band, Real Like You, being awarded a record contract – but little has been heard of them since the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
And host Dermot further dashed fans’ hopes of the show returning in 2021 after he revealed that he has ‘no idea’ when the series will resume, but thinks it will be 2022 at the earliest, due to the pandemic.
Recovering: Simon, 61, is recovering after undergoing surgery after breaking his back in a terrifying electric bike accident back in August but was recently seen in London
Questioned on Sunday Brunch at the end of last year, Dermot said: ‘If I knew, I’d tell you, because I’d be happy. I’ve no idea!’
Talking about the logistics of the series – which involves travel around the world and arenas packed with a large-scale audience – Dermot said: ‘It’s got the turning circle of a car ferry. There’s a lot of planning that goes into it. It definitely won’t be next year, so it will probably be back in 2022.’
Asked whether he has spoke about it to show boss Simon, Dermot said: ‘We’ve been in touch.’
Simon, 61, is recovering after undergoing surgery after breaking his back in a electric bike accident back in August however has recently been seen in London.
His injuries saw him sit out of the resumed 2020 series of Britain’s Got Talent after it returned following England’s first lockdown.
Dashing hopes: The X Factor’s host Dermot O’Leary previously said he doesn’t think the show will return anytime before 2022