Simon Cowell is said to be hoping to bring The X Factor back to life, and he wants Cheryl to be there every step of the way.
The music mogul, 61, reportedly wants the ITV talent show to return to our screens next year, and he is eyeing up a return for Cheryl, 37, on the judging panel.
The last time The X Factor aired was in 2019 with a special version to create a band, which followed a celebrity version earlier that year featuring Megan McKenna, who won the series, Jenny Ryan and Vinnie Jones.
2018 was the last time the series in its original format aired, and Simon reportedly feels there's been enough of a break.
And he wants Cheryl, who starred in the show from 2008 to 2010 and then again 2014 from 2015, to take her seat back on the judging panel.
"Cheryl is still very much in the Cowell fold," a source told Heat magazine.
"She trusts him, and he enjoys working with her.
"He brought her back to TV with The Greatest Dancer and could do the same with the news series of The X Factor."
The source added: "Bosses feel it's been given enough of a rest and hope that by next year, fans will be ready to welcome it back with open arms."
The Mirror has contacted reps for Simon Cowell and is awaiting comment
Chery's rep declined to comment.
After her success on the UK X Factor, Simon brought Cheryl over to the US for the American version.
But she lasted only a few episodes before she was fired and replaced by Nicole Scherzinger.
Cheryl and Simon fell out during this time, with the singer angry that he got a producer to fire her rather than tell her himself.
They made up and Cheryl returned to the UK show, and later made a guest appearance as Simon's adviser in 2017
