Cheryl Cole Returned To The X Factor UK "For Gary Barlow" Not Simon Cowell

10 September 2012, 08:04 | Updated: 10 September 2012, 08:08

The 'Under The Sun' singer is quoted as saying her return to the show was purely to support Gary.

Cheryl Cole has reportedly said she returned to The X Factor UK solely to support good friend Gary Barlow, after show boss Simon Cowell tweeted her a message welcoming her back to the series.

The 'Call My Name' star served as a judge on the ITV1 show between 2008 and 2011, and was confirmed to be back on the new series over the weekend as current judge Gary Barlow's guest mentor during the show's judges houses section. 

However, reports that emerged yesterday (9th September) quote Cheryl as saying she is "not doing this" for former show panelist Simon Cowell, since he tweeted "Welcome back" after news of Cheryl's return broke this weekend.

 "I saw Simon's tweet. I'm not doing this for him," Cheryl said after hearing about the message, reports The Sun this week. "I am doing this for Gary as he's my friend and he's asked me to do it."

The 'Under The Sun' singer was pictured alongside Take That frontman Gary outside Boughton House in Northamptonshire this weekend to help the 'Love Love' singer select his finalists for this year's series of The X Factor UK, and he took to Twitter afterward to thank Cheryl for her help.

"Thank you @CherylCole for all your help this weekend," Gary tweeted. "The contestants and I loved having you there. xx."

View a picture of Cheryl Cole attending the Fashion's Big Night Out' in London last week ahead of her return to The X Factor (Credit: Getty):

Cheryl is currently preparing to launch he next single from recent album 'A Million Lights', the Wretch 32 featuring hit 'Screw You'.

Cheryl Cole is also set to kick off her brand new arena tour across the UK this autumn starting in Belfast (3rd October).