Has Nicole Scherzinger Quit The X Factor?

Nicole Scherzinger is reported to have told Simon Cowell and The X Factor's management team that she won't be returning to the show.

The former Pussycat Dolls star has been a hit with UK audiences after joining the judging panel for the last two years - but appears to have been sidelined while Cheryl Cole negotiates over a possible return.

 Adoring to many reports A friend of 35-year-old Scherzy told The Sun: "It breaks her heart, but Nicole is sad not to be able to go back to the show this year. She has agonised over this decision for months.

"She put her music career on hold last year but now she has to focus on her music."

Simon Cowell has already announced that he is returning to the panel this autumn - and is reported to be seeking to sign Chezza and Rita Ora to sit alongside himself and Louis Walsh.

The paper also quoted a source close to SiCo as saying of Scherzy: "She will always be part of the X Factor family."

Meanwhile Chezza has stoked rumours of her return with a "throwback Thursday" picture.