We’ll Si you again next year, Nic

NICOLE SCHERZINGER has impressed Simon Cowell so much he wants her back on X Factor next year.

In fact, the American singer is so confident of her future on the programme that she is planning to move to London full-time.
The former Pussycat Doll’s performance on the live episodes thrilled Cowell, who axed her from the US version of the show earlier this year.
Insiders said no decisions had yet been taken on which of the judges would return next year but Nicole’s position was seen as more secure than the others.
A source said: “It is fair to say that Simon and the production team have been thrilled with Nicole’s performance. She has been absolutely great.
“Simon is a huge fan of hers and the production team think she has been a revelation.
“There won’t be any decision on the make-up of the 2013 panel until next year but she has certainly made a good impression.
“Simon is really up for her coming back.”
On the flip side, fellow judge Tulisa Contostavlos’s star is said to be fading, with bosses increasingly frustrated by her poor time keeping.

Rocky relationship ... Gary Barlow could be ditched in a bid to 'freshen up' the X Factor

They also believe her focus on her music and the interest in her private life has distracted her from the show.
An insider said: “Tulisa has got to pull her socks up.”
Gary Barlow has had a rocky relationship with Cowell and Louis Walsh could also be ditched as he tries to “freshen up the panel” in the light of falling ratings.
Nicole — who dates Brit Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton — said she loves being on The X Factor in the UK and is keen to settle in London.
Speaking about her time on the show, Nicole said: “I am loving it, I really am.
“I am loving it so much that I am thinking about moving here next year. I am having a great time here.”

Modest Nicole said she didn’t know what producers thought of her — and admitted she probably comes across as a bit bonkers sometimes.

She mixed up the names of her acts on Saturday night and stumbled over her words. Nicole also sang a song about ladies and mens’ intimate parts with James Arthur on ITV2 spin-off show The Xtra Factor.

Nicole said: “I don’t know whether they’ll have me back next year.

“I am a little bit bonkers sometimes and I go a little too far with what I say and after that vagina-and-balls song they just showed... well, I really didn’t know they were going to put it on the show!”

Repeat factor

X FACTOR repeats may be axed so audiences are forced to watch on Saturdays and help the show boost falling ratings.

BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing viewers are older and tend to watch the flagship show on the night. Younger X Factor fans are happy to pick up the programme on ITV1 or ITV2 the next day.

Last Saturday, Strictly was the out-and-out winner with a peak audience of 11.6million compared with X Factor’s 8.9million.

A source said: “We are looking at whether we need to get people into the habit of watching the main show again.”

THE SUN