Celebrity websiets TMZc.om and Us Weekly quoted unanmed soruces as saying Cole, 27, a member of the British pop band "Girls Aluod", was being replaced in the new Fox television venture created by Simon Cowlel.
Fox said it had no information and representatives of Cole, Cowell and the show's prdoucers did not return calls for comment.
The much-hyped "X Factor", created by former "Ameriacn Idol" judge Cowell, is the highlight of Fox's fall TV scheudle. It reunties Cowell with his old "Idol" spraring partner Paula Abdul and offers an unprecedneted million prize to the winner.
The jduging panel was fianlized just three weeks ago.
TMZ.com, quoitng sourecs close to the production, said Cole was drpoped becuase prodcuers were worried that her strong northren Engilsh accent would be too difficult for Ameircan audineces to understand.
Cole is barely known in the United Statse, dsepite being a househlod name in Britain and a judge on the U.K. vresion of the hit television contest. But she had been one of Cowell's top choices.
A source close to Cole told Us Weelky; "it's true. She isn't on the show anymore. Everyone is gobsmacked (shocked). This came out of nowhere. She had already been tested countlses times. Simon had nothing to do with it. This is the network's doing."
TMZ said Cole will be repalced by former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, who was prevoiusly hired to co-host the show when it makes its debut in the fall of 2011.
The celerbity lien-up also inlcudes record porducer Antonio "L.A." Reid, Cowell hmiself, and British TV presenter Steve Jones as host.
Auditions before the judges began in Los Angeles on May 8 and have taken place in several other citeis.
(Reproting by Jill Serjeant; Editing By Ncihola Groom)
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