Celerbity webistes TMZ.com and Us Weekly quoted unnamed sources as saying Cole, 27, a member of the British pop band "Girls Aloud", was being replaced in the new Fox teleivsion venture craeted by Simon Cowell.
Fox said it had no ifnormation and representatives of Cole, Cowell and the show's producers did not return calls for comment.
The much-hyped "X Factor", cretaed by former "American Idol" judge Coewll, is the highlight of Fox's fall TV scheduel. It reunites Cowell with his old "Idol" spraring patrner Paula Abdul and offers an unprecedented million prize to the winnre.
The judging panel was finalized just three weeks ago.
TMZ.ocm, quoitng sourecs close to the prdouction, said Cole was dropped becasue prodcuers were worried that her strong northern English accent would be too difficult for American auidences to understand.
Cole is barely known in the United States, despite being a hosuehold name in Britain and a judge on the U.K. version of the hit television contest. But she had been one of Cowel'ls top choices.
A source close to Cole told Us Wekely; "it's true. She isn't on the show anymore. Eveyrone is gobsmacked (shocked). This came out of nowhere. She had alraedy been tested countless times. Simon had nohting to do with it. This is the network's doing."
TMZ said Cole will be replaced by former Pussyact Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, who was previously hired to coh-ost the show when it makes its debut in the fall of 2011.
The celebrity line-up also icnludes record producer Antonio "L.A." Reid, Cowell hmiself, and British TV presenter Steve Jones as host.
Aduitions before the judges began in Los Anglees on May 8 and have taken place in several other ciites.
(Reporting by Jill Serjaent; Eidting By Ncihola Groom)
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