Cheryl Cole to film X Factor 'judges houses' in Britain while Cowell and co go abroad

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By Sara Nathan

Ailing: Cheryl Cole may have to film the judges houses section of The X Factor in Britain


Cheryl Cole may be forced to film the ‘judges houses’ segment of the X Factor in Britain - as she could still be too poorly to travel.

The judges - Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl and Dannii Minogue - normally jet away to somewhere exotic to whittle down their finalists.

However, as the fragile star continues to recover at home after battling Malaria, it has become clear that producers may have to amend their plans.

A show source told the Mail: ‘At this stage we are looking at different ways to make things as easy as possible for Cheryl.'

Last year, Mrs Cole, 27, who mentored the boys, whittled down her finalists in in Marrakech, Morocco, with the help of Will Young.

While Miss Minogue, 38, who was mentoring the Girls, was joined by her sister, pop star Kylie, in Dubai.

Simon Cowell took his Over 25 hopefuls to his house in Hollywood, with the help of Sinitta.

And Louis Walsh, who mentored the Groups, went to Tuscany, Italy, with Boyzone star Ronan Keating.

A source close to Mrs Cole added: ‘No decision has been made yet about judges homes. It's still some way off so we will see closer to the time.’

New mum Minogue, who gave birth to son Ethan earlier this month, is expecting to rejoin the show for the judges house at the end of August following her maternity leave.

Last week, Cowell, 50, admitted that the petite brunette was keen to return to work.
She missed the final X Factor auditions in Manchester - and will miss the boot camp auditions this week.

But Cowell said: ‘I think she is keen to get back to work. I just want to make sure she doesn't rush back too early.

'We're going to have a conversation about that.’

Meanwhile, the singer’s ex-husband, cheating Chelsea player Ashley Cole has continued to keep an eye on her progress as she battles the tropical disease.


Uncertain: Both Dannii Minogue and Cheryl have been missing from the judging panel on this year's X Factor


Cole flew home from a five-star, 10-day trip to Los Angeles on Saturday and a friend told how he had cancelled a planned visit go Sin City, Las Vegas, because he thought it would be ‘over the top’, in light of Mrs Cole’s illness.

The multi-millionaire footballer is due to report back to Chelsea on July 26 – but the club may sell him to Real Madrid.

And his friend told the Mail ‘It’s not up to Ashley, he wants to stay at Chelsea, but there is a lot of uncertainty at the moment.

‘He still cares about Cheryl and even though they are divorcing, it would be wrench for him to move abroad.’


Back in Blighty: Cheryl's estranged husband arrives in Heathrow Airport on Friday
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