Alesha Dixon to replace Cheryl Cole?
Monday 09 May 2011
So we've had the confirmation that Cheryl is moving over to the US version of the X Factor which only raises the question who's to replace her over here?
Rumour has it that our very own Alesha Dixon is tipped to be the person in question with rumours that Simon Cowell is tipped to be on the verge of signing the singer
Alesha, 32, is reported to have met X Factor bosses on Wednesday after weeks of talks and is said to be thrilled at the prospect of joining the hit ITV show, according to the Sunday Mirror.
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.'
Sarah Harding, Lily Allen and N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos have apparently all been in the running.
Simon is believed to have decided on Alesha because of her out-there personality and experience as a solo artist and a member of girl group Mis-Teeq. She is also close friends with Gary Barlow - who was confirmed as a judge last week - which Simon thinks would help with the dynamics of the panel.
A source told the Sunday Mirror: 'Alesha is ecstatic. She never thought in a million years that she would be asked,'
'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.'