US X Factor bosses officially drop Cheryl Cole

Cheryl Cole has officially been dropped from the US version of The X Factor.

US broadcaster Fox and Cowell's production company Syco confirmed the sacking in an official announcement, ending almost two weeks of rumour and speculation about problems with the line-up.

Cole, who had been Cowell's personal choice for the panel, will be officially replaced by Nicole Scherzinger, who was previously announced as the co-host of the show.

Ex-T4 presenter Steve Jones will now host the show by himself.

'Nicole will join Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid and Paula Abdul on their search across America to find the next global superstar or group to win the life-changing five million dollar recording deal,' a statement added. 

'Nicole has previously joined Simon Cowell as a guest judge on The X Factor for the UK version of the show in 2010.

'Steve Jones will act as sole host of The X Factor.'

Cole was rumoured to have been offered a second chance by US X Factor bosses on Sunday.

But the latest statement finally brings the curtain down on the Geordie star's future on the show.