Tough times: Is Cheryl Cole famous enough for America?
Cheryl Cole’s hopes of conquering America have been struck a huge blow.
The ambitious singer thought she was a certainty for a judge’s chair on the American X Factor, but TV bosses across the Atlantic now doubt that she is ‘famous enough’.
It has been reported that the 27-year-old’s rivals for the chair include superstars Rihanna and Katy Perry.
A source close to Miss Cole, who has been househunting in LA, said: ‘It was thought the American job was a done deal but it seems the U.S. executives have had a last-minute change of heart.
'They are now questioning whether she’s famous enough in America.’
According to the source, Simon Cowell is doing ‘everything in his power’ to persuade U.S. bosses that Miss Cole is the right choice to sit alongside him.
Miss Cole’s setback emerged as Cowell, 51, was locked in his own X Factor battle.
The Daily Mail has learned he will miss the majority of the new series of the British X Factor, forcing frantic ITV chiefs into a fight to keep their biggest star.
The network has even offered to pay for a private jet to whisk him across the Atlantic every week.
Cowell was made the offer after he told ITV he would join the talent show for only the live shows and miss the auditions because he will be launching the American X Factor.
A source said: ‘Simon’s biggest priority is the U.S. X Factor at the moment – he has got a lot to prove and he has to make it a hit.’
Cheryl herself admitted last year she wasn't quite sure if Americans would know who she is.
She said on Radio 1's Live Lounge: 'They don't know me out there and I've got this weird accent. I love the thought of it and would love to do it.
On the rocks: Both Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell are facing X Factor strife
'The talent out there is phenomenal but whether they would want me is another thing. I don't think they would get a buzz off me.'
Despite her huge fame in the UK, both Cole and her group Girls Aloud are little-known outside the country, with her debut album 3 Little Words reaching its highest non-UK chart position in Belgium at No. 9 and Greece at No.15.
New reports about the X Factor judges came as the show was criticised for breaching rules on product promotion in comments made by Dermot O'Leary.
Ofcom investigated the hit ITV1 show over concerns that host O'Leary told viewers that they could download singles by its guest singers, Diana Vickers and Michael Buble.
Programme-makers blamed the references, which they admitted were 'inappropriate', to 'an unfortunate script error'.
The mistake was initially not spotted in the headline-grabbing series last year, on October 17, when O'Leary said: 'If you want to download Diana's single, details at ITV.com/Xfactor.'
The same script was used as a basis for the October 24 programme, when O'Leary said: 'If you want to download Michael's single, all the details on ITV.com/Xfactor.'
During that broadcast the error was noticed and the script was corrected for all future shows.
Programme-makers said that the X Factor website contained no information on downloading its guest artists' songs and that the tracks were not available to download there.
But Ofcom found the programme in breach of section 10.3 of the broadcasting code, which states that 'products and services must not be promoted in programmes'.
Source:Dailymail