Simon Cowell on verge of luring Strictly's Alesha Dixon to replace Cheryl Cole as X Factor judge

By Daily Mail Reporter


Thrilled? Alesha Dixon is said to be excited about the prospect of joining the X Factor judging panel


Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon looks set to replace Cheryl Cole on the panel of the X Factor.

Simon Cowell is tipped to be on the verge of signing the singer to fill to the vacancy left by Cheryl who has been confirmed as a judge on the new US version of the show.

Alesha, 32, is reported to have met X Factor bosses on Wednesday after weeks of talks.


She is said to be thrilled at the prospect of joining the hit ITV show, according to the Sunday Mirror.

The move would prove quite a coup for ITV if they could lure Alesha away from the BBC dance show.

Simon is said to have been agonising over who should replace the Geordie Girls Aloud singer.

Her band mate Sarah Harding, 29, has also been in the frame along with Cheryl's long term rival Lily Allen and N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos.

Simon is said to have been deliberating over who to choose to join Take That's Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh on the judging panel.

A source told the newspaper: 'He has spent weeks handpicking the right people - he's a perfectionist who changes his mind by the hour.

'There have been heated debates and disagreements almost every day between Cowell, ITV and senior executives over who they need to sign up to give it some stardust.'

America bound: Simon Cowell has confirmed Cheryl Cole will be joining him on the judging panel of the US version of the X Factor


Simon is believed to have decided on Alesha because of her gutsy persona and experience as a solo artist and a member of girl group Mis-Teeq.

She is also close friends with Gary Barlow which Simon thinks would help with the dynamics of the panel.

Dannii Minogue is expected to return to the show which would complete the line up.

'Alesha is ecstatic. She never thought in a million years that she would be asked,' the source told the Sunday Mirror.

'But talks have been on for weeks and have been going well. She has had meeting with ­producers and realises it’s her dream job – an offer she can’t refuse.

'She’d be sad to turn her back on Strictly, but X Factor is in a completely ­different league.'

A spokesman for X Factor refused to confirm or deny the appointment and said: ‘The panel for the UK will be announced in due course.'

The BBC controversially chose Alesha to join the Strictly panel in 2009 to replace 67-year-old Arlene Phillips.

She was chosen following her success as a contestant on the show in 2007 when she won the competition with professional dancer Matthew Cutler.

It would be a blow for the corporation if she left, leaving a gap in the judging panel.

Bosses at the ITV show also need to find a replacement for Konnie Huq who presented ITV2's Xtra Factor.

The former Blue Peter presenter was reportedly axed after mixed reviews from viewers - although her management said she had other commitments which clashed with the show.

The 35-year-old made her debut helming the X Factor sister show last year, but failed to match the popularity of previous presenter Holly Willoughby.


source:dailymail