Nicole Scherzinger believes she is a better judge than a host on the US version of ‘The X Factor’ because she can ”have a voice”.

Nicole Scherzinger thinks she is “better served as a judge” on the US ‘X Factor’.

The former Pussycat Dolls star replaced Cheryl Cole on the panel of the musical talent search show and is pleased she was moved from her original role as co-host alongside Steve Jones because she thinks she will be of more use to the show.

Asked about why Cheryl was sacked, Nicole said: “I have no idea. I think she made the decision ultimately for herself. I heard that maybe Girls Aloud are going back on tour.

“I did start out as a host and then they asked me to be a judge, I felt like I was better served as a judge, I could mentor and have a voice.”

Nicole - who turns 33 today (29.06.11) - loves working with fellow judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul on the show because their bond is as entertaining as watching the contestants.

She told Australian radio station 2Day FM’s Kyle and Jackie O show: “He’s a lot of fun, he vibrates at a certain level so everybody else vibrates at that level, if you allow him to he brings out the best in you.

“My most favourite part of these auditions, other than seeing the talent is watching Simon and Paula bicker back and forth, they’re brilliant together.”

If anyone would know how Nicole acted towards Cheryl it would be her BFF, right? Well, Kimberley says Nicole has always been really nice towards Cheryl.

Although Nicole Scherzinger was apparently moved from the co-host of the US version of The 'X Factor' to a judging position after Cheryl Cole was fired, her former manager, Jeff Haddad - who was let go only weeks before the joined the reality competition - is now claiming that the former Pussycat Dolls singer was Always expected to take the role she is in now, and Cheryl was only used to generate publicity!

"Simon Cowell always wanted her as a judge. There was never a question that she wouldn't get it. I had long discussions with Simon about her judging the US show and she was always a frontrunner for that job.

"Cheryl's name never came into it. Cheryl was just being used as a cog in the wheel to cause hype and publicize the show. Nicole was never supposed to be a host. I think Cheryl's accent never came into it. It was an excuse. Americans are used to all sorts of accents."

o need to make things awkward! Nicole Scherzinger hasn't spoken to Cheryl Cole since she replaced her as an X Factor judge, the Pussycat Dolls' singer told Us Weekly.

"She's a lovely girl though," Scherzinger, 32, said at X Factor auditions Thursday in Newark, N.J.

So did Scherzinger want to put any of the rumors to rest about the so-called drama at the judges' table? "I don't know what the rumors are, I try not to read that stuff because what it is, is rumors, not truth," she said. "I think [Cheryl's] a lovely, beautiful girl and I think she's made decisions based on what is best for her."

Scherzinger added that she's "kind of in love" with the show's other judges, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. A source close to the show told Us that Cowell "was really torn between Cheryl and Nicole. He absolutely loved Nicole, really felt like she was the right one, but also knew his chemistry with Cheryl had been great before in the U.K... Cheryl was a much bigger risk and instinctively, as time went on, Nicole felt more and more like the right choice."

After much speculation and undeniable media spin, an official announcement has been made regarding the judging panel of the X Factor USA.

Full story after the jump…

In a joint press release, Fox, Fremantlemedia and Syco TV said:

“Nicole Scherzinger will be replacing Cheryl Cole on the judging panel of The X Factor.

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 $5 million dollar recording deal.

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.”

And there, folks, you have it. It’s great to see an end to the farce that was Cheryl’s signing. Perhaps now she’ll hustle the way far more talented acts have to. That, or she could just re-join Girls Aloud - as its being widely reported she will.