Abby Brammell

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

No bad guy: Simon Cowell apparently 'moved heaven and earth' to get Cheryl Cole back on the X Factor and even offered to double her money


X Factor boss Simon Cowell agreed to double Cheryl Cole's salary to £2.8million in a bid to reel her back to the X Factor.

The X Factor boss believes he has been made out as the 'bad guy' following the controversy over the Girls Aloud star's unceremonious firing as a judge from the U.S. version.

The Daily Mirror said Cowell, 51, had infact 'moved heaven and earth' to get the Geordie singer back on the show and insisted the decision to axe her was made by a group and not him alone.


In happier days: The pair were great friends until Cheryl was unceremoniously fired from the U.S. show last week


The latest development in the saga comes as new judges Take That singer songwriter Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos and former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland made their debut yesterday at the first X Factor UK auditions at Birmingham's LG Arena.

A show producer told the newspaper: 'He (Cowell) moved heaven and earth for that girl – effectively offering to double her salary to take up a role on the UK show.'


The new crew: The official new line-up, Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos, Kelly Rowland and Louis Walsh, pose together for the first time


Cheryl, who has not been seen in public since her dismissal, is believed to be refusing to answer calls from Simon or respond to texts.

Even Louis Walsh waded into the debate and apparently said there was no hope for the pair's friendship now.

But the 58-year-old said Cheryl is strong and will return to the spotlight soon 'even more fantastic than before'.

But Take That star Gary Barlow revealed yesterday Cheryl had 'turned a corner' and 'is going places'.

Barlow, 40, said he had spoken to the petite brunette - and revealed that she had wished him luck as he prepared to take over from Simon Cowell as a judge on the ITV talent hit.

source: dailymail